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You are here >1Up Info > Wildlife, Animals, and Plants > Plant Species > Shrub > Species: Polygonum spp. | Smartweed
 

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FIRE EFFECTS

SPECIES: Polygonum spp. | Smartweed
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : Fire top-kills smartweed. DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : NO-ENTRY PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : Smartweeds usually sprout from seeds following fire. They tend to reproduce more after severe burns than after light burns [1,10]. DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : P. cilinode, an annual, has been known to colonize severely burned sites in the forests of northeastern Minnesota [1]. August wildfires in the pine forests of northern Minnesota resulted in an increase of P. cilinode from zero percent cover on the unburned sites to 36 percent ground cover on the burned sites [4]. P. bistortoides was present following wildfires in krummholz and alpine meadows of the central Rocky Mountains [7]. P. convolvulus sprouted from seed following a May prescribed burn in shrub communities of central Alberta. However, this species was only prevalent for the first postfire year [3]. Fire was simulated in northern Alberta wetlands to monitor its potential effects on the plant community. Here, P. amphibium was almost equal in percent cover for the three treatments: no burn, "light burn," and "deep" burn in willow (Salix spp.) savanna zones [21]. ("Deep burns" had the first 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm) of soil removed and the new surface burned with a propane torch for 1 minute; "light burns" had some soil removed and the new surface lightly burned with a propane torch). In the pinegrass (Calamagrostis spp.) zones of these same Alberta wetlands, P. amphibium was found in trace amounts on the unburned and lightly burned sites, and not at all on the "deeply" burned sites. Prescribed fires on sagebrush (Artemesia spp.)-grass (Poaceae) ranges in northern Idaho showed significant differences in P. douglasii cover between the light to moderately burned and severely burned sites [8]. Only 7 pounds/acre (7.83 kg/ha) of this species was found on unburned sites, while 26 pounds/acre (29 kg/ha) were found on severely burned sites. Smaller differences in cover were shown for light and moderately burned areas compared to unburned sites. FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : Where smartweed is a desired waterfowl food fire can be used to stimulate the growth of smartweeds while reducing competition from sedge (Carex spp.), cattail (Typha spp.), and giant reed (Phragmites spp.) [23].

Related categories for Species: Polygonum spp. | Smartweed

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Information Courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Fire Effects Information System

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