Prescribing low intensity fire to kill wildings in Pinus radiata plantations in Western Australia

Summary Dense thickets of self-sown Pinus radiata (wildings), which develop after thinning operations in mature P. radiata plantations in Western Australia, are an additional source of fuel and have been observed to promote crown Tire development during wildfires and frustrate wildfire suppression activities. One of the techniques investigated for controlling pine wildings, low intensity prescribed fire, has been effective in killing wildings. Pine wildings died after experiencing full crown scorch or defoliation. The height to which pine wildings were scorched, hence the level of mortality, was found to be related to fire intensity. Intensities of up to 200 kW m−1 can be prescribed to kill most wildings up to 5 m tall. Any reductions in stocking and basal area of wildings will be a positive contribution to protecting P. radiata plantations from wildfire. No response in the growth rate of crop trees as a result of the reduction of abundance of pine wildings by fire was detected.