Differential Response of Woody and Herbaceous Species to Summer and Winter Burning in an Oklahoma Grassland

Adams, Dwight E.; Anderson, Roger C.; Collins, Scott L.

doi:10.2307/3671407

Cited by 45 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Conversely, annual plant diversity increased following release from cattle grazing in Sonoran desert grasslands (Waser & Price, 1981). In other North American grasslands, fire and grazing sometimes increase diversity (Adams et al, 1982;Anderson, 1982;Collins & Steinauer, 1998). For example, in tallgrass prairies, diversity and cover of dominant C 4 grasses are contingent on whether burns are conducted during or outside the lightning season (Collins, 1987;Howe, 1994;2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of fire, grazing, and the presence of shrubs on Chihuahuan desert grasslands

Drewa

Havstad

2001

Journal of Arid Environments

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of fire, grazing, and the presence of shrubs on Chihuahuan desert grasslands

Drewa

Havstad

2001

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…Some of the first scientific reports of fire in tallgrass prairie were unreplicated observations following wildfire, included little if any information about the fire environment, and the comparison unburned area was subjectively selected (see Kelting 1957, Adams and Anderson 1978, Adams et al 1982). An early study that impeded the acceptance of prescribed fire in Oklahoma reported that fire reduced plant production and resulted in soil erosion (Elwell et al 1941), but the effects of fire were confounded by grazing and site differences.…”

Section: Dormant-season Firementioning

confidence: 99%

“…An early study that impeded the acceptance of prescribed fire in Oklahoma reported that fire reduced plant production and resulted in soil erosion (Elwell et al 1941), but the effects of fire were confounded by grazing and site differences. Other studies (Kelting 1957, Adams et al 1982 did not include herbage production as a response measurement, complicating the application to rangeland management where herbivory by livestock or wildlife is important.…”

Section: Dormant-season Firementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It also indicates that late growing-season fire leads to neither large nor long-term changes in production and species composition. Adams et al (1982) compared pre-fire and post-fire responses to a mid-July fire in an abandoned cropland naturally revegetated to tallgrass prairie (Table 4). Canopy cover of all grasses except switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) decreased the year after the fire in the burned area.…”

Section: Late Growing-season Firementioning

confidence: 99%

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Viewpoint: The response of central North American prairies to seasonal fire

Engle¹,

Bidwell²

2001

REM

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Natural fires on the native grasslands of Oklahoma and Kansas were important for maintaining ecosystem structure and function. Today, land managers largely conduct prescribed fires in the late dormant season or they do not burn at all. When wildfires occur in other seasons, conventional wisdom assumes that desirable forage species for cattle are compromised. This assumption is based on a few fire studies limited in breadth and scope. To address this, we revisited numerous data sets to quantify the influence of season of fire on plant production and species composition. Research demonstrates that tallgrass prairie burned in the late spring starts growth earlier, grows more rapidly early in the growing season, and produces more tall grasses than unburned prairie. We contrast this response with the literature reporting the results of fire occurring in other seasons. Fire effects vary with fire frequency, fire-return interval, grazing history, herbicide use, successional stage, weather pattern, edaphic features, and topography. Our review of research suggests that a variety of responses to fire season are possible and rules-of-thumb that generalize responses are misleading. Most of the research on fire also does not report the interaction of fire and herbivory. Thus it is difficult to judge the influence of fire within the context of herbivory. Results from ongoing research suggest that the prairie is far more resilient under the interaction of fire and herbivory than earlier believed.Key Words: native grasslands, prescribed fire, fire frequency, fire interactions, fire return interval, wildfire Fire on the native grasslands of Oklahoma and Kansas, as in other portions of the Great Plains, provided a portion of the energy required for the development and maintenance of these grasslands (Bragg 1995). Natural fire was possible from late in the growing season before the first killing freeze in autumn, through the dormant season (i.e., after the first freeze in autumn and before the last freeze in spring), and up to several weeks after the last freeze in spring (Bragg 1982, Higgins 1986. The timing of fires with respect to season or within a season potentially influences plant species composition and productivity, and therefore influences rangeland management in the modern landscape. In this paper we demonstrate that a variety of plant species composition and production responses to season of fire are possible, and that prairie is far more resilient to burning in any season than is accepted commonly by conventional wisdom.Prescribed fire for livestock management in the grasslands of Oklahoma and Kansas is usually intended to enhance forage quality for cattle. Fires conducted early in the freeze-free period of the spring, traditionally referred to as late spring, coincide with resumption of active growth of warm-season grasses following winter dormancy. Late spring burning has been recommended for optimum cattle production (Launchbaugh and Owensby 1978). Fires conducted in winter or early spring are intended to e...

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“…Summer fire applied during periods of above normal soil moisture can result in less damage and subsequent decline of woody plants compared to dormant-season fire applied under low soil moisture conditions (Adams et al 1982). In part, reductions of spiny hackberry and Texas pricklypear on winter burn treatments may be explained by soil moisture conditions at the time of burning.…”

Section: Journal Of Range Management 56(2) March 2003mentioning

confidence: 99%

Journal of Range Management, Volume 56, Number 2 (March 2003)

2003

REM

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Differential Response of Woody and Herbaceous Species to Summer and Winter Burning in an Oklahoma Grassland

Cited by 45 publications

References 18 publications

Effects of fire, grazing, and the presence of shrubs on Chihuahuan desert grasslands

Effects of fire, grazing, and the presence of shrubs on Chihuahuan desert grasslands

Viewpoint: The response of central North American prairies to seasonal fire

Journal of Range Management, Volume 56, Number 2 (March 2003)

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