FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Elytrigia repens | Quackgrass 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Late spring fires generally reduce quackgrass cover, flowering and
biomass, while early spring fires can increase these.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
A May burn in oak savannas of Wisconsin significantly reduced quackgrass
and halted flowering [13].  Similar results (reduction in biomass and
cover) have been shown for other areas [23,28].  Burning quackgrass on a
biennial schedule for several years has been effective in eradicating
this species [1,3].


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Quackgrass cover can increase following fire.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Five annual late April to early May burns in Minnesota resulted in a
decrease in quackgrass height but an increase in cover [5].  Plant vigor
was reduced and flowering stopped, but quackgrass continued to spread
into adjacent areas.  At the time of the April burns, plant height was
between 3.9 and 5.9 inches (10-15 cm), and during the May burn, heights
were between 5.9 and 9.8 inches (15-25 cm).  May and June burns on North
Dakota grasslands "harmed" quackgrass in the first postburn season, but
quackgrass recovered to almost preburn levels by the second postburn
season.  Following the late June fire, quackgrass showed a slight
increase in cover, height, shoot density, production, and flowering
[39].  Wisconsin grassland fires in March caused an increase in seed
production by July and August [23].


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Cool-season grasses such quackgrass are best eliminated with early
spring burns [20,31,34].  Cool-season grasses can grow in the fall
following summer dormancy; therefore, fall burns might also help reduce
undesirable cool-season grasses [41].

Related categories for Species: Elytrigia repens | Quackgrass