FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Calamagrostis montanensis | Plains Reedgrass 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Although fire will kill aboveground parts of plains reedgrass,
underground rhizomes survive even high-severity fires [2].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Even after high-severity fire, plains reedgrass will sprout vigorously
from on-site surviving rhizomes.  This grass provides more forage on
burned sites than on unburned sites [2].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Three years following an August sagebrush-grass fire on the upper Snake
River plains, Idaho, plains reedgrass exceeded its original density on
burned sites.  At postfire year 9 this grass was still producing
significantly more herbage on burned sites than on unburned sites [2].


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Prescribed burning is a valuable management tool for range improvement
[2,5,15].  Herbage production of perennial grasses and forbs often
increase within a year after burning [2].  Burning favors rhizomatous
grasses such as plains reedgrass if plants are burned when dormant
[2,5].  Range managers have suggested that grazing be deferred in burned
areas for at least 1 year to allow for the uninterrupted growth of
herbaceous vegetation [5].

Related categories for Species: Calamagrostis montanensis | Plains Reedgrass