FIRE CASE STUDIES
SPECIES: Pleuraphis  mutica | Tobosa 



CASE NAME : 
Post-Montgomery Estate, Lynn County Texas


REFERENCE : 
Heirman, A. A.; Wright, H. A. 1973 [23]


SEASON/SEVERITY CLASSIFICATION : 
Spring burn


STUDY LOCATION : 
Lynn County Texas


PREFIRE VEGETATIVE COMMUNITY : 
The vegetation is dominated by nearly pure stands of tobosa and
buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides).  Mesquite (Prosopid glandulosa),
cholla (Opuntia imbricata) and Pricklypear (O. phaeacantha) are the
dominant brush species.  


TARGET SPECIES PHENOLOGICAL STATE : 
NO-ENTRY


SITE DESCRIPTION : 
Data on the site are given below:
Elevation: between 3,000 and 3,300 feet (914-1006 m)
Relief: level to gently undulating
Mean annual precipitation: 19 inches (48 cm)
Siol: Deep hardland soils of Amarillo loam with slow surface drainage
      and medium internal drainage.


FIRE DESCRIPTION : 
This fire was started at 3:30 p.m. on March 23, 1970, and was completed
by 4:30 p.m.  A total of 300 acres were burned.  The fire was considered
to be spotty and incomplete due to insufficient fuels in some areas,
especially where buffalograss had been overgrazed.

Conditions reported:

             Air temperature = 75 degrees F (24 C)
             Relative humidity = 25%
             Wind speed = 12 to 20 mph from the southwest
             Fuel moisture of grass = 15%
             Surface soil moisture = 20%
             Maximum soil surface temperature = 460 degreed F (238 C) 
                                                in tobosa stands


FIRE EFFECTS ON TARGET SPECIES : 
Tobosa yields increased three fold, but there was no effect on
buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides).  Tobosa's unpalatable old growth was
removed by burning.  New growth following fire was tender and succulent
and cattle prefered it to the buffalograss.  Total tobosa grazed on the
burned area was 2,388 pounds per acre while only 371 pounds per acre
were utilized on the control.  Burning also decreased annual weeds.  By
the second year after burning 50% of pricklypear plants (Opuntia
phaeacantha) died.  Most mesquite trees (Prosopis glandulosa) were top
killed but resprouted after fire.


FIRE MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Pleuraphis mutica | Tobosa