FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Scolochloa festucacea | Whitetop 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Whitetop is probably top-killed by fire.  Rhizomes may be damaged by
fires which occur during drought when the soil is dry and litter
moisture content is low.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Whitetop sprouts from rhizomes after fire.  Fall fire removes the dead
standing culms and accumulated litter, allowing unimpeded spring growth.
In North Dakota, spring growth was initiated earlier on burned sites
than on unburned sites, possibly because soil and water temperatures
were higher where the litter had been removed by fire [37].

In Saskatchewan, each of 13 marsh stands composed of whitetop, slough
sedge, and common spikerush was burned one to four times during a
10-year study period.  The species composition did not change [31].

In Manitoba, whitetop shoots emerged 5 days after a late July fire and
were 4 inches (10 cm) tall after 10 days.  At the end of the growing
season, whitetop on burned and unburned areas averaged 19.5 inches (49.5
cm) and 37.4 inches (95.0 cm) tall, respectively.  Stem density was less
on burned areas.  After the next full growing season, whitetop stem
height was still less but stem density was greater on burned areas.  The
fire opened up stands of common reed and stimulated growth of whitetop
within these stands.  Red goosefoot (Chenopodium rubrum) established
with the regenerating whitetop, especially where whitetop roots had been
killed as peaty humus burned [44].



DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Prescribed fall burning of whitetop increases biomass production [4,37].
In North Dakota, burned stands averaged 11,580 kilograms per hectare and
unburned stands averaged 7,480 kilograms per hectare.  Fire did not
affect the nutrient levels in whitetop [37].

Diiro [3] investigated the effects of burning and mowing on whitetop
ponds and associated wildlife in Manitoba.  Fall fires were conducted
after the first hard frost and spring fires were conducted during dry
days from early April to June.  Fall prescribed burns had greater stem
densities and biomass the following growing season than did unburned
control sites, mowed sites, spring prescribed burns, or sites
undisturbed for one growing season.

Diiro [3] concluded that prescribed burning to increase whitetop biomass
has detrimental effects on wetland wildlife.  Burning is most feasible
in dry years when wildlife are most susceptible because of decreased
habitat availability.  Ponds are more likely to contain water in the
spring if they were not burned in the fall.  Dead, standing whitetop
culms catch and retain snow, and fall burning decreases this moisture
retention capability.  Diiro [3] recommended fall prescribed burning
only in areas that do not rely on snow trapped within ponds as a water
source.  Even when feasible, he does not recommend spring fires because
they destroy nests.

Related categories for Species: Scolochloa festucacea | Whitetop