Controlling bush encroachment with fire in the savanna areas of South Africa

Trollope, W.S.W.

doi:10.1080/00725560.1980.9648907

Cited by 91 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The grass height data was averaged per sample plot and grass biomass was derived from this using the equation: mean biomass (kg/ha) = 340 ? 388.3* mean grass height (cm) (Trollope 1983).…”

Section: Monitoring Of Chromolaena and Native Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This role of fire is especially strong in mesic savannas with more than 650 mm of rain annually (Sankaran et al 2005). As a result, fire is widely used as a management tool in savannas to control woody encroachment of grassland habitats by native species (Trollope 1983). In fact, it has been successfully applied to switch woody plant dominated savannas to more open grassland systems (Trollope 1983;Roques et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, fire is widely used as a management tool in savannas to control woody encroachment of grassland habitats by native species (Trollope 1983). In fact, it has been successfully applied to switch woody plant dominated savannas to more open grassland systems (Trollope 1983;Roques et al 2001). Additionally, fire plays a role in maintaining these open grassland systems because competition with grasses is thought to hamper colonization of woody species (Roques et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Managing invasions at the cost of native habitat? An experimental test of the impact of fire on the invasion of Chromolaena odorata in a South African savanna

Beest

Cromsigt

Ngobese³

et al. 2011

Biol Invasions

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Successfully managing invasive plants in natural systems is extremely difficult. Recently however, progress has been made with an approach focused on changing ecosystem processes through the disturbance regime. We performed a large-scale (3 ha) full-factorial field experiment in densely invaded woodland in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, a savanna reserve in South Africa, to study the effect of fire on the control of the pan-tropical invasive exotic shrub Chromolaena odorata in combination with the conventional method, i.e. manual clearing and herbicide application. We show how fire interacted with the conventional clearing of C. odorata and induced an intense canopy fire that caused a shift from woodland to grassland. After 2.5 years of monitoring, grasses were still dominant and re-invasion minimal. It is important to note that fire without prior clearing did not have the same effect and was not successful in reducing densities of C. odorata. An integrated control practice targeting the species with mechanical and chemical methods, while simultaneously targeting its habitat through fire, effectively controlled dense C. odorata thickets during the course of the experiment. However, this approach transformed regular surface fires into high-intensity canopy fires that are rare in savannas. We discuss how this altered fire regime may threaten native habitats, including fire-sensitive forest patches and riverine woodlands within the savanna mozaic. This is an important dilemma for managers that should not be overlooked and asks for long-term data on the impact of control programs on the native vegetation.

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“…The grass height data was averaged per sample plot and grass biomass was derived from this using the equation: mean biomass (kg/ha) = 340 ? 388.3* mean grass height (cm) (Trollope 1983).…”

Section: Monitoring Of Chromolaena and Native Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Managing invasions at the cost of native habitat? An experimental test of the impact of fire on the invasion of Chromolaena odorata in a South African savanna

Beest

Cromsigt

Ngobese³

et al. 2011

Biol Invasions

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“…Although this was only a temporary response that lasted for 2 years postfire, it did leave rangeland exposed to potential erosion for a longer period of time following summer fires than winter fires, and this must be weighed in any decisions regarding the use of summer fires. Other studies worldwide (Trollope 1980;Bailey 1988;De Luis et al 2004) have issued a similar concern regarding summer fires.…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sideoats Grama Growth Responses to Seasonal Fires and Clipping

Ansley¹,

Castellano²,

Pinchak³

2006

REM

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There is increased interest in the use of summer-season fires to limit woody plant encroachment on southern prairie grasslands, but collateral effects of these fires on grasses are poorly understood. We quantified effects of repeated winter fires, repeated summer fires, simulated grazing (clipping), and their interaction on yields of the C 4 midgrass, sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) in northern Texas. Monoculture patches of sideoats grama were exposed to 1 of 3 fire treatments: 1) no burn, 2) 2 winter fires in 3 years, or 3) 2 summer fires in 3 years; and to 1 of 2 clip treatments (no clip or clip once each spring). Total yield (live þ standing dead), live yield, percent live tissue, and foliar cover were measured in spring and late-growing season (late-season) over a 7-year period. In unclipped plots, late-season total yield did not fully recover until 2 growing seasons after winter fires and 3 growing seasons after summer fires. By 5 years postfire, total yield was greater in both fire treatments than in the no burn. Live yields recovered more quickly than total yields following summer fires but never exceeded the no burn. Percent live tissue was greater in both fire treatments than in the no burn for up to 2 years postfire. Clipping reduced total and live yields in the no burn and winter-fire treatments but not in the summer-fire treatment. By 5 years postfire, total and live yields were greater in the summer fire þ clip than the no burn þ clip or winter fire þ clip treatments. Results suggest that 1) sideoats grama is tolerant of summer fires but full recovery may require at least 3 years, and 2) in the long-term, summer fire þ clipping may stimulate sideoats grama production more than winter fire þ clipping or clipping alone. ResumenHay creciente interés de usar fuego en verano para limitar la expansió n de plantas leñ osas en los pastizales del sur, pero, los efectos colaterales de estos fuegos sobre los zacates son pobremente entendidos. En el norte de Texas, cuantificamos los efectos de fuegos repetidos en invierno, fuegos repetidos en verano, apacentamiento simulado (cortes) y sus interacciones en el rendimiento de zacate C4 ''Sideoats grama'' (Bouteloua curtipendula). Parches de monocultivo de ''Sideoats grama'' fueron expuestos a 1 de 3 tratamientos de fuego: 1) sin quema, 2) 2 fuegos en invierno en 3 añ os, y 3) 2 fuegos en verano en 3 añ os; y a 1 de 2 tratamientos de corte (sin corte y un corte cada primavera). El rendimiento de biomasa total (viva þ muerta), el rendimiento de biomasa viva, el porcentaje de tejido vivo y la cobertura foliar fueron medidos en primavera y al final de la estació n de crecimiento durante un periodo de 7 añ os. En las parcelas sin corte, el rendimiento de biomasa total a fines de la estació n se recuperó totalmente hasta 2 estaciones de crecimiento después de recibir los fuegos de invierno y hasta 3 estaciones después de recibir los de verano. Cinco añ os después del fuego, el rendimiento de biomasa total fue mayor en ambos tratamientos de fuego que en l...

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“…Acacia nilotica provides timber, fire suppression, shade for livestock and fodder in native and exotic regions (Fagg, 1992;El Atta, 1993;Alikodra, 1987;Carter et al, 1991;Lowry et al, 1993). Although it is seen to have many benefits, A. nilotica is also seen as having negative impacts associated with increasing density in many regions (Pratt & Knight, 1971;Trollope, 1980;Carter, 1994;Mackey, 1997). Agricultural impacts in rangelands include reduced pasture growth, reduced livestock carrying capacity and increased costs of livestock management due to mustering difficulties (Carter, 1994;March, 1995;Mackey, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%