In north Mississippi, I evaluated fuel loads in the late dormant season and after leaf fall in unburned areas and after a dormant season burn. Fuel loads beneath winged elm (Ulmus alata) were assessed to determine if this shade-tolerant species impacts fine fuel loads in the area immediately near its bole. I found leaf litter fuel loads are higher after leaf fall suggesting that burns conducted closer to leaf fall may have increased burn intensity. Burning reduced leaf litter fuels and exposed mineral soil which returned to pre-burn levels following leaf fall. Declines in duff layer fuels were not evident until after leaf fall. Leaf litter fuels underneath winged elms had higher mass and percentage of winged elm litter beneath them compared to areas away from them. These results will help determine appropriate time for restoring prescribed fire and the implications of encroachment by non-oak species into upland oak forests.

Oaks (Quercus spp.) are a dominant genus in forests across the United States that have been declining due to fire suppression and forest mesophication. The reduction of these species may alter forest hydrologic and biogeochemical cycling. Canopy-derived nutrients and interspecific temporal distribution of leaves were quantified under oak and hickory (Carya spp.) species in Mississippi during 2014-2016. Throughfall quantity and chemistry were measured during every storm event under oak and hickory species. Interspecific leaf litter was collected weekly to quantify the timing of leaf fall and leaf litter nutrient content. Throughfall volume and solute fluxes were impacted by seasonality. Mg2+ and DOC were greater in throughfall than precipitation. Leaf loss was slower in oak species during leaf fall. Slower decay in oak litter may correlate with higher C/N ratios compared to hickory species. Results of this study indicate oak species are an important contributor to forest hydrology and nutrient cycling.