Fire regimes and phytomass growth dynamics in a Quercus coccifera garrigue

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Abstract
An experiment was set up in a Quercus coccifera garrigue in southern France to analyze the effect of burning frequency and season on phytomass production. Fire regimes consisted of late spring or early autumn burns, every 6 yr, every 3 yr, or every 2 yr. The experiment started in 1969 and lasted for 19 yr. In May 1981 and May 1987, 10 samples, each 1 m2, were harvested per treatment. Fire frequency had an effect on the quantity of phytomass which was produced: above‐ground phytomass decreased with increasing fire frequency. This was mainly due to the lower biomass of woody plants.In all burning treatments the phytomass of herbs was higher than in the unburned vegetation. Within each burning frequency, the total phytomass of the spring‐burned vegetation was always higher than that of the autumn‐burned community. Generally, the herb phytomass produced was higher in the autumn‐burned plots. There were two fairly distinct phases in the period following fire, each with a different level of annual phytomass production. For the first six years it was about 300 g m−2 yr−1, falling thereafter to about 50 g m−2 yr−1. This and other studies on Q. coccifera garrigue indicate that this community is very resilient with respect to fire, but possesses a low productive capacity and does not show any sign of degeneration up to 30 yr old.

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