Firebreak construction in wet eucalypt forest coupes has significant
short-term effects on soil physical and chemical properties,
foliar nutrient concentrations, and seedling size. Two-year old
eucalypt seedlings growing on the firebreak track and the disturbed
firebreak were 40% and 60% the size of those growing in
the general harvest area, respectively. Despite greater nutrient
availability, seedling growth in the burnt windrows was not high
enough to offset the reduced growth on the firebreaks at age
two. Longer-term studies which include measurements of stand
density are needed to accurately determine the magnitude and
persistence of these effects.