Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

USDA Logo U.S. Department of Agriculture

Publication Details

Title:
Characteristics of masticated particles in mixed-conifer forests of the western United States: Moisture-loss tests
Author(s):
Sikkink, Pamela G.
Publication Year:
2017
How to Cite:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:
Sikkink, Pamela G. 2017. Characteristics of masticated particles in mixed-conifer forests of the western United States: Moisture-loss tests. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0034
Abstract:
This data publication contains the results of three separate moisture tests on masticated fuels collected from mixed-conifer forests in 14 study locations. These data were collected from 2012 through 2016 as part of the MASTIDON project. The MASTIDON project was a four-year research project to study how masticated material differs when treated with different cutting machines and how the masticated particles decompose when left on the ground for multiple years. It investigated masticated materials in four states of the western United States. The project was funded by the Joint Fire Sciences Program (JFSP) and RMRS between 2013 and 2016.

The masticated particles within this project were created by four different machines, including a vertical rotating head, horizontal drum, chipper, and mower. They had been decomposing in situ in wet and dry areas of Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, and South Dakota since their initial treatment. This portion of the study was designed to show how these materials absorb or lose water under three different conditions. This data publication includes the experimental results of tests conducted in (1) a temperature and humidity controlled environmental chamber; (2) outside under variable temperature and humidity conditions; and (3) in a temperature-controlled oven under laboratory conditions. The environmental chamber and outdoor tests were conducted on the entire range of fuel loads using 25 x 25 centimeter wire cages containing duff, 1 hour fuels, 10 hour fuels, 100 hour fuels, a variety of sizes of bark, and fresh litter materials. The oven tests were conducted on individual particles that were mostly 10 hour fuel-size class (i.e., between 7 millimeter and 2.54 centimeter in diameter). This publication also includes files describing the MASTIDON project and its goals.

Keywords:
masticated fuels; masticated fuel load; decomposition of masticated fuels; physical effects of mastication; ponderosa pine; western larch; water adsorption/desorption; moisture drying curve; Joint Fire Science Program; JFSP; Forest management; Forest ecology; biota; western United States; Idaho; Colorado; New Mexico; South Dakota
Related publications:
  • Keane, Robert E.; Sikkink, Pamela G.; Jain, Therese B. Unpublished material. Physical and chemical characteristics of surface fuels in masticated mixed-conifer stands of the U.S. Rocky Mountains. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-XXXX. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. (IN PRESS).
  • Keane, Robert E.; Sikkink, Pamela G.; Jain, Therese B. Unpublished material. Physical and chemical characteristics of surface fuels in masticated mixed-conifer stands of the U.S. Rocky Mountains. JFSP Final Report. 13-1-05-8. 32 pp. https://www.firescience.gov/projects/13-1-05-8/project/13-1-05-8_final_report.pdf
  • Sikkink, Pamela G. 2017. Characteristics of masticated particles in mixed-conifer forests of the western United States: Shape, particle, and fuel load characteristics. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0012
  • More (6 total)
Metrics:
Visit count : 161
Download count: 3
More details
Data Access:
  • View metadata (HTML)
  • View file index (HTML), which lists all files in this data publication and short description of their contents
  • Download all files below for the complete publication:

Need information about Using our Formats?