Absence of a Grass/Fire Cycle in a Semiarid Grassland: Response to Prescribed Fire and Grazing

Surface Temperatures and Durations Associated with Spring Prescribed Fires in Eastern South Dakota Tallgrass Prairies

“…Plant biomass reduction following fire is often short lived; 2 y after fire and grazing vegetation fuels on all plots were not significantly different (MacDonald and McPherson, 2011). On the other hand, fuel loads can increase with longer periods between fires with greater fuel accumulations 3 y after the fire than pre fire (Ducherer et al, 2009).…”

“…Many studies suggest grassland fuel loads do not accumulate in a linear manner. Vegetation biomass can reach prefire levels in a minimum of 2 y (Morgan, 1999;Prober et al, 2007;Fidelis et al, 2010;Kirkpatrick et al, 2011;MacDonald and McPherson, 2011), although little or no further build up may occur if return times are greater than four or more years (Govender et al, 2006;Oluwole et al, 2008;Cianciaruso et al, 2010).…”

“…Grazing used in combination with fire increases grassland species diversity (Collins et al, 1998) and effectively manages invasive plants (Davies et al, 2009;Diamond et al, 2009;MacDonald and McPherson, 2011). Although grazing removes less plant biomass than fire, grazed lands have lower fuel loads than ungrazed areas (Savadogo et al, 2007;Davies et al, 2009;Diamond et al, 2009;Leonard et al, 2010;Kirkpatrick et al, 2011;MacDonald and McPherson, 2011), which may reduce the initial effectiveness of fire to kill undesirable vegetation. The combination of frequent fires, with grazing between fire events, can further reduce post treatment fuel accumulation (Archibald et al, 2005;Kirkpatrick et al, 2011); the unintended consequence can be milder fire conditions compared to areas managed with either method alone.…”

“…The combination of frequent fires, with grazing between fire events, can further reduce post treatment fuel accumulation (Archibald et al, 2005;Kirkpatrick et al, 2011); the unintended consequence can be milder fire conditions compared to areas managed with either method alone. Similar to fire, the effects of grazing management on fuel loads may be negligible beyond 2 to 3 y (Archibald et al, 2005;Kirkpatrick et al, 2011;MacDonald and McPherson, 2011).…”

No Long-Term Effects of Prescribed Fire on Lehmann Lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana)–Invaded Desert Grassland

“…Areas with persistent invasion have experienced reductions in the native flora and fauna (Bock et al 1986). Also of concern is that Lehmann lovegrass can create an accelerated fire cycle in areas it dominates (Anable 1990), although in some invaded areas the fire cycle remains unaltered (McDonald and McPherson 2011). Most research on Lehmann lovegrass has examined the influence of fire in southern Arizona grasslands.…”