Effects of meteorological and fuel variables on fire behavior in Tectona grandis L.f. in Manabí, Ecuador
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| Autori: | , , , |
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| Format: | artículo original |
| Status: | Versión publicada |
| Datum izdanja: | 2026 |
| Opis: | Controlled burn has been used as a management tool in tropical forest ecosystems, but its application in teak plantations requires a deeper understanding of fire behavior and the variables that influence it. This study aimed to analyze the effects of meteorological and fuel variables on fire behavior in Tectona grandis L.f. in Manabí, Ecuador. Fifteen experimental plots were established in a teak plantation where controlled burns were conducted, recording air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, fuel dry weight, fuel moisture content, and litter layer thickness. The fire behavior parameters analyzed included flame height, rate of spread, fireline intensity, lethal scorch height, and heat released per unit area. The results showed that fire behavior was strongly influenced by fuel characteristics, particularly dry weight and moisture content, whereas meteorological variables did not exhibit significant correlations. Structured relationships among fire behavior parameters were identified, allowing for the proposal of simplified indicators for field monitoring. It was concluded that fuel load and moisture content are key determinants for planning safe and effective prescribed burns, and that their prior assessment helps mitigate risks and optimize silvicultural benefits. This study provides useful tools for sustainable forest management in tropical plantations, highlighting the need to incorporate fuel-related variables into prescribed burning planning models. |
| Zemlja: | Portal de Revistas TEC |
| Institucija: | Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica |
| Repositorio: | Portal de Revistas TEC |
| Jezik: | Español |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/8442 |
| Online pristup: | https://revistas.tec.ac.cr/index.php/kuru/article/view/8442 |