Fire, defoliation, and competing species alter Aristida purpurea biomass, tiller, and axillary bud production
-
-
Authors: M. L. Russell, L. T. Vermeire, N. A. Dufek, and D. J. Strong
Date: 2013
Journal: Rangeland Ecology & Management
Volume: 66
Number: 3
Pages: 290-296
Summary of Methods: The effect of summer fire, clipping, and neighboring species (western wheatgrass or blue grama) on purple threeawn were examined at Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, MT (46° 22’ N; 10° 5’ W). Plots were either burned or unburned and received one of 4 clipping treatments (no clipping, no clipping of red three-awn and moderate clipping of adjacent plant, moderate clipping of red-three awn and severe clipping of adjacent plants, or severe clipping for red three-awn and adjacent plants ). Burning was conducted in the summer with the use of a fire cage. Final biomass, aboveground production, tillers and axillary buds were measured.
Article Summary / Main Points: Fire killed 36% of the threeawn plants. Non-burned red three-awn plants produced less biomass when the neighboring plants were clipped. Moderate clipping increased plant production regardless of species. Burning reduced the total number of tillers produced, though clipping did not affect tiller production. Fire reduced the number of active and dormant threeawn axillary buds per plant by 25%. Fire reduced the potential biomass of red three-awn from 60 to 23%. Fire and grazing may be potential tools in restoring biodiversity to three-awn dominated plant communities.
Vegetation Types: Northern Mixed Prairie Sagebrush Steppe
MLRA Ecoregions: 58A Northern Rolling High Plains, Northern Part
Agrovoc Control Words: Prescribed burning Grazing Aristida
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: bouteloua, pascopyrum, prescribed burning, productivity, purple threeawn, simulated grazing
Annotation: This replicated study and its associated results are only applicable only to the northern mixed prairie/shortgrass prairie ecotone in Eastern Montana, though the ecological processes behind the results can be applied to all rangelands dominated by three-awn. As is true for all range research, the results are most directly applicable to areas with similar landscapes, type of ungulates, weather conditions and season of use. Additional research is needed to determine the specifics about timing, intensity and frequency of fire and grazing to restore the plant community.
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-