• IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT
• DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT
• PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE
• DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE
• FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT:

Fire usually burns crested wheatgrass aboveground but underground parts survive [79].

DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT:

No entry

PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE:

Researchers characterize crested wheatgrass as "slightly damaged" [97] or "undamaged" by prescribed fire [93,119], since coarse stems and sparse leafy parts inhibit heat transfer down into the culms or soil. Young [119] says postfire recovery is rapid.

Crested wheatgrass in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming occurs in low flammability growth habitats, and its deep underground tillers help it to survive fire. Crested wheatgrass growth may be favored by late summer fire, but spring fire can decrease yields for several years [21].

Crested wheatgrass can be used as a "greenstrip" or fuelbreak in semi-arid rangelands to help control wildfire [49]. It is moderately flammable, produces moderate litter, has an extensive range, competes well, and is a good sprouter. A mature stand of crested wheatgrass can help control annual grassland fires like those found in sites now invaded by cheatgrass throughout the arid West, particularly in sagebrush-steppe habitats [90,94].

A study at Experimental Farm, Swift Current, Saskatchewan, investigated the effects of spring and fall burns on crested wheatgrass pastures. The spring burn occurred while the grass was growing vigorously, and forage yield and domestic sheep consumption on the pasture were reduced for the following 2 years. The grass was dormant during the fall burn, which took place during November. Although forage yield was reduced in the following year, sheep consumption was not. Lodge [79] concluded the fall burning of crested wheatgrass reinvigorated the stand.

DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE:

No entry

FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

Haws and Bohart [53] studied infestation of monoculture crested wheatgrass stands with black grass bugs in Utah. They conclude that the bugs decrease regeneration by eating the grass seed, but that since the grass bug eggs are inserted in the stem of the grass, they can easily be destroyed by burning. Burning in the fall destroyed most eggs and depressed the bug population for several years.

Related categories for SPECIES: Agropyron cristatum | Crested Wheatgrass