FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Lespedeza bicolor | Bicolor Lespedeza 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Fire may top-kill bicolor lespedeza.  High-severity fires may consume
seeds stored in the seed bank and destroy underground portions of the
plant.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Bicolor lespedeza generally increases in density under a frequent
burning regime (4 years) [7,26] because it sprouts from the root crown
after top-kill [7,23,25] and establishes new individuals from both on-
and off-site seed sources [8].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
On a site cleared and burned every 4 years since 1962 in the Georgia
Piedmont, bicolor lespedeza density was 1,529 per acre (619/ha) compared
to 0 on an adjacent site with no previous burning history [5].  The
effects of burning, fertilizing and a combination of both on the plant
community in the Alabama Piedmont was studied.  The extent of coverage
of bicolor lespedeza on the various treated sites is as follows [26]:

Unburned and unfertilized= 0.01
Fertilized only= 0.16
Burned only (4 year interval)= 0.73
Burned and fertilized= 0.60

Bicolor lespedeza spread into the woods as a result of regular burning
on the North Auburn area and on a large Piedmont private quail preserve
in Alabama.  On these areas it has become the dominant understory
species [26].

Bicolor lespedeza germination has been shown to increase with dry heat
treatments of up to 194 degrees Fahrenheit (90 deg C).  The percent
germination of bicolor lespedeza seed treated with dry heat during the
summer of 1966 was as follows [9]:

                              Dry heat (degrees C)
          Control        45   60   70   80   90   100   110
             
(% germ)    4            44   68   80   100  100   0     0       
          


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Prescribed fire can increase bicolor lespedeza density [5,9,26] and
consequently improve the habitat for northern bobwhite and other game
birds.  Nitrogen is a main soil nutrient lost during fire [31].  Because
bicolor lespedeza is a nitrogen-fixing plant, it can be planted on
burned sites to restore nitrogen to the soil [17].

Related categories for Species: Lespedeza bicolor | Bicolor Lespedeza