KUCHLER TYPE FIRE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
KUCHLER TYPE: Southern cordgrass prairie



FUELS, FLAMMABILITY, AND FIRE OCCURRENCE : 
Winter fires are standard practice along coastal Louisiana, but there
are indications that lightning caused many summer fires before
settlement [3].  Because of the year-round growing season, vegetation
gets thick enough to burn severely every 3 to 4 years [9].


FIRE EFFECTS ON SITE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE EFFECTS ON VEGETATION : 
Little specific information of fire's effects on smooth cordgrass was
found in the literature.  February prescribed fires in a Florida
saltmarsh caused little change in smooth cordgrass stands.  In the
absence of fire glasswort may invade cordgrass stands [14].  In
freshwater marshes fires may cause little disturbance when water is
present, but during drought years when water levels are below the
substrate, fires may kill marsh vegetation [12].  Similar results may
occur in saltmarshes.


FIRE EFFECTS ON RESOURCE MANAGEMENT : 
People regularly burn coastal marshes to improve access to hunting and
fishing areas [9].


FIRE USE CONSIDERATIONS : 
Fire is not recommended as a cleanup method for oil spills because
burning may increase oil penetration into the substrate [5].


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Three types of prescribed burning techniques have been described for
Gulf Coast marshes [9]: 
1. cover burn - used when there is 3 to 5 inches of standing
                water; removes dense vegetation to improve
                wildlife habitat; conducted every 2 years and
                usually does not change plant composition
2. root burn -  burns into peat layer when standing water is
                absent; kills climax vegetation
3. peat burn -  burns out peat layer down to clay subsoil;
                changes plant composition

For quality livestock forage, smooth cordgrass prairies should be burned
every 2 to 3 years.  Ranges burned in early fall should not be grazed
until winter when the new growth is 6 to 8 inches tall.  Spring-burned
ranges should not be grazed during summer but can be grazed in winter [8].


REHABILITATION OF SITES FOLLOWING WILDFIRE : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Kuchler Type: Southern cordgrass prairie