Productivity of Two Prairie Grasses in Relation to Fire Frequency

Author: Hadley, E.B.; Kieckhefer, B.J.

Description: The nature of the relationship between grassland vegetation and frequent natural fires has been discussed by Sauer (1950), Stewart (1951, 1956), and Curtis (1959). A number of studies have shown that frequent fires affect herbage production, litter accumulation, and flowering stalk production of the burned prairie sites (Curtis and Partch 1950, Weaver and Rowland 1952, Dix and Butler 1954, Aikman 1955, Robacker and Miller 1955, Ehrenreich 1957, Kucera and Ehrenreic1961, and Tester and Marshall 1961). Most investigations have not considered total energy production (biomass and caloric values) but have been concerned primarily with the effect of fire on biomass. This study examined the effects of burning
and burning frequency on the biomass and caloric content of shoots, roots, and litter on a reconstructed prairie site in east-central Illinois.

Subject headings: Prairies, Growing seasons, Biomass burning, Root biomass, Plant roots, Grasses, Biomass production, Productivity, Plant ecology, Phenology; Fire

Publication year: 1963

Journal or book title: Ecology

Volume: 44

Issue: 2

Pages: 389-395

Find the full text : http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1932186

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Type: Journal Article

Serial number: 1870