REGENERATION BURNING WITH SEED TREES IN TWO BLACKBUTT (EUCALYPTUS PILULARIS Sm) FORESTS

Experimentation with regeneration burning on two contrasted blackbutt forests is described. The blackbutt forests on Fraser Island are developed on deep sands with little organic matter accumulation, and have a typically sclerophyllous understorey. Burning consistently resulted in excellent seedling establishment and survival. For optimum results timing may be varied within the period February to April depending on the maturity status of the available seed crop and on weather conditions.

Within the experimental area on Cooloolabin Forest, blackbutt occurs on a moderately heavy yellow podsolic soil with a much higher organic matter content, and away from the immediate environs of ridge crests a strong representation of rainfores: element species may be present. In a series of experimental burns, blackbutt seedling establishment largely failed on burnt sites but was recorded where soil had been heavily disturbed during site preparation.

The contrasted results on the two forests are discussed in terms of some recent concepts of the plant-soil relationship on eucalypt forest soils.