Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Richard P. Young
18
FIRE EFFECTS ON VEGETATION characteristics are important with respect to
community development after a fire (Harper 1977;
Some General Concepts Cattelino and others 1979). Species with the
best chance of getting seed into "open" sites,
Two aspects of fire effects on vegetation need to favorable for successful establishment, are
be considered: (1) direct effects, which consist likely to have one or more of the following
of heat damage to individual plants; and (2) properties:
indirect effects--that is, how fire affects
postburn community development by altering stand 1. Production of large seed crops. The more
composition and structure. Direct damage by fire seed produced, the greater the chance of some
is related to morphological characteristics of falling onto favorable sites.
plants, including the location of growing points 2. Seeds that are light and/or have special
(meristematic tissues). Development of the post- morphological characteristics to aid dispersal.
burn community as a whole is obviously dependent The adaptation of many weedy species and some
to a large degree on direct fire effects. There shrubs, especially when combined with the property
are, however, some additional factors at work. of large seed crops, results in highly competitive
By killing certain plants, fire reduces competition species because seed is broadca~t over large
and releases resources (water, nutrients, light) areas and new plants may rapidly occupy suitable
to those plants that survive the burn and to new openings within a community.
plants established from seed within the burn 3. Reserves of long-lived seed maintained in
area. How these newly available resources are the soil. In this situation a ready supply of
divided is dependent on characteristics of the new seedlings may be available to occupy openings
plant species, including their regrowth and without the delay of seed production and dispersal
reproductive potentials, and preburn range into the burn area. A certain proportion of the
condition--species composition and abundance. seed reserves may germinate on an annual basis or
germination may be stimulated by conditions of
All trees and shrubs and some perennial forbs the burn such as heat treatment from the fire or
have growing points elevated on aerial stems, the high levels of nitrogen and/or phosphorous in
terminal and lateral buds. These are often soils after the burn.
severely damaged or killed by fire. Survival of 4. Annual or frequent seed crops. Because
these species is dependent on their ability to good seed production years are not always followed
resprout after loss of aerial stems. For example, by good seedling establishment years, it may be
certain shrubs resprout after burning as top- advantageous to produce some amount of viable
killing activates dormant buds or initiates seed in as many years as possible. Several years
development of adventitious buds at the lower may be required before seedlings are capable of
portions of stems or on roots (Volland and Dell taking hold in a burned area.
1981). Most grasses and forbs have growing points
variously insulated from heat injury by their Although not a property of seed production per se,
location near to or below the soil surface. For the more abundant a species is within the postburn
these species the degree of damage sustained is community, the more likely it is to spread into
proportional to the temperature and length of fire-created openings, either by vegetative growth
time to which meristematic tissues are subjected. or establishment of new seedlings; thus, the
Postburn regrowth is by way of undamaged meri- importance of preburn range condition and survival
stematic tissue. Most herbaceous plants fall of desirable species. Poor condition or low seral
into this category, and response to fire varies stage communities probably will not improve in
between species and with characteristics of the response to fire either rapidly, or possibly not at
burn. Rhizomatous species are usually quite all (Young and others 1977; Young and Evans 1978).
resistant to fire injury due to insulation of Where the perennial grass and forb understory is
growing points by the soil (Volland and Dell 1981). depleted, total seed production will be small and
poorly dispersed over the burn area (even though
Plants capable of rapid regrowth or resprouting production per plant may be relatively high).
after fire are usually favored over those that Resprouting shrubs and annual species are likely
are top-killed and subject to reestablishment to increase and compete strongly with the more
by seed (Noble and Slatyer 1977). These species desirable plants. In general, the better the
are able to take immediate advantage of the initial condition of the site, the more likely
increased availability of resources. This is it is that a favorable response will be observed
often observed as vigorous growth and increased after a fire.
production of individual plants, species, or the
herbaceous component of a community as a whole Plant Species Response To Fire
(Daubenmire 1968; Young and Evans 1978). This
alone, however, does little to fill in the spaces Despite the inferred difficulty of predicting
resulting from plants killed in a fire. That is plant response to fire, an abundance of informa-
accomplished primarily by the establishment of tion exists on certain species (especially the
new plants from seed (although spread of rhizoma- common, abundant ones) and how they react to fire.
tous species achieves the same result). Seed About some species, we know a lot, and our predic-
availability and ultimately establishment of new tions concerning these are generally quite good.
plants can affect postburn community composition For others, however, we know much less. Caution
as much or more than any other process. There- is therefore advised when using summaries (such
fore, seed production, longevity, and dispersal as I report here) for the following reasons:
19
1. Much of our information derives from are necessary to kill trees under these conditions.
observations following wildfires. Environmental Ease of conducting such burns is improved with
conditions and behavior of wildfires are typically increasing crown density and as the proportion of
different from most controlled burns. Therefore, pinyon in the stand increases.
plant response might similarly be expected to
differ significantly. We still need to know more Pure stands of juniper are nearly impossible to
about plant response to burns of varying intensi- burn and then may require dangerously high wind-
ties conducted in different seasons, phenological speeds: in excess of 35 mi/h (56 km/h). Dense
condition, soil moisture, and so forth. stands of mixed pinyon and juniper (500 to 1,000
2. Many times generalizations are formulated trees/acre, or 1,235 to 2,470 trees/ha) can be
about species occurring in low abundance in a burned on hot days (Blackburn and Bruner 1976).
community. These species are difficult to sample Bruner and Klebenow (1979) have shown that large
with reasonable levels of precision. Although no pinyon and juniper trees can be killed in stands
hard and fast rule can be given, the key to mixed with sagebrush under the following condi-
evaluating fire effects on these species is to tions: 45 to 60 or more percent shrub and tree
look for "big" differences in pre- and postburn cover, air temperature 60° to 75° F (16° to
abundance. Small changes might easily be an 32° C), relative humidity less than 25 percent,
artifact of sampling methods and/or intensity. and maximum windspeed 5 to 25 mi/h (3 to 40 km/h).
3. We have found, often after expensive
mistakes, that plant taxonomy below the species Big sagebrush, a nonsprouting species, is easily
level can be important relative to vegetation killed by fire. The observed effects of fire on
management practices. The obvious case in point major shrub species in the sagebrush and pinyon-
here involves big sagebrush, for which differences juniper zones of the Intermountain region are
in ecosystem and therefore management implications summarized in table 1. In general, sprouting
are associated with the various subspecies (see shrubs are favored by fire. In addition to rapid
section on "Plant Species Names"). Differences postburn regrowth, many of these species, such as
important to range management practices might rabbitbrush and horsebrush, produce heavy seed
also be expected of other species. Care should crops. Thus, plant density may increase drama-
always be taken when extrapolating reported tically after a burn, especially on poor to fair
or observed fire effects between subspecies, condition range sites where the postburn community
varieties, and so forth. is open to establishment of new plants. Peren-
nial herbaceous species dependent on establishment
The most common use of fire in the Intermountain from seed appear to be much slower and therefore
region is for control of undesirable woody species less competitive at expanding into these openings.
of trees and shrubs: pinyon, juniper, and big Heavy seed production and ease of dispersal, both
sagebrush. The objective is to reduce competition from any surviving plants and from outside the
with existing herbaceous plants or species that burn area, may likewise result in rapid reinvasion
will be seeded onto the site. Species of pinyon by big sagebrush.
and juniper common to the Intermountain region
are not capable of resprouting after a fire and Growth habit and season of burn are the principal
are readily removed by top-killing crown fires or variables regulating response of grasses to fire
when trunks are "girdled" by destruction of cam- (table 2). In addition, effects of fire on
bial tissue. However, the effect of fire on b~nchgrasses are related to culm density, culm-
individual pinyon and juniper trees is dependent leaf morphology, and size of the bunch (Wright
upon tree height, quantities of shrub and herbaceous and Bailey 1982). Idaho fescue and needle-and-
fuels, and weather conditions. Trees less than thread can be severely harmed by fire. This
4 ft (1.2 m) tall are easily killed under condi- results from densely clustered, leafy culms that
tions of: 600 to 1,000 lb/acre (675 to 1,125 kg/ha) burn long after passage of the flaming front
fine fuels, air temperatures greater than 70° F and irrespective of fire intensity. Late summer
(21° C)~ relative humidity 20 to 40 percent, and and fall burns appear least damaging to this
windspeed 10 to 20 mi/h (16 to 32 km/h) (Jameson growth form (Wright and Klemmedson 1965), whereas
1962; Dwyer and Pieper 1967). Cooler temperatures wildfires are most injurious (Countryman and
and higher relative humidity can be expected to Cornelius 1957). In contrast, bluebunch and
reduce mortality of this size class of trees. crested wheatgrass and bottlebrush squirreltail
are less susceptible to damage by fire. Coarse
Mortality of trees greater than 4 ft (1.2 m) in stems with lesser amounts of leafy material result
height requires heavy accumulations of fine fuels in rapid combustion and little downward transfer
or continuous cover of shrubs between and below of heat into plant crowns. Wright and Klemmedson
pinyon and juniper (conditions frequently diffi- (1965) have shown that the small basal size of
cult to meet in the Intermountain region). For Sandberg bluegrass and bottlebrush squirreltail
the conditions listed above, Jameson (1962) and reduce their susceptibility to injury by fire.
Dwyer and Pieper (1967) report kills of 13.5 to
40 percent for this size class. However, accumu- Rhizomatous species such as Kentucky bluegrass,
lations of tumbleweeds around tree bases increased thickspike wheatgrass, and many sedges are fre-
crown kill to 60 to 90 percent (Jameson 1962). quently favored by fire. However, burns conducted
in the spring after new growth is initiated can
Closed stands of pinyon and juniper (greater than severely injure these species. Such burns favor
60 percent cover) with sparse understories are later-developing grasses and forbs.
difficult to burn because fires do not readily
carry (Blackburn and Bruner 1976). Crown fires
20
Table 1. Summary of fire effects of major shrub species of the sagebrush and pinyon-juniper zones of the Intermountain region (Fright and
others 1979; Volland and Dell 1981). Species with similar characteristics are grouped. See text for scientific names.
Antelope bitterbrush Heavy seed, Moderate to Seed germination from Effect of fire on bitterbrush determined by growth
Cliff rose animal dispersed severely damaged rodent caches, basal form -- decumhant form may sprout vigorously,
stem sprouting; slow upright form is a weak sprouter. Severely damaged
by summer and fall burns. Spring burns enhance
sprouting; burn when wet.
Big sagebrush Light seed, wind Severely damaged Seed germination Frequent, heavy seed crops; readily dispersed over
Black sagebrush dispersed nonsprouting; slow large areas. r,ood seed production prior to burning
Low sagebrush to rapid speeds reinvasion, especially in poor condition
ranges. Big sagebrush subspecies important relative
to postburn community response. Black and low
sagebrush rarely burn due to low fuel loads -- can be
used as fuel breaks.
Threetip sagebrush Light seed, wind Slightly to Resprouts (yariable), Sprouting is strongest when burned with moist soils.
dispersed severely damaged seed germination; Weak resprouting reported in Idaho; strong response
moderate to rapid reported in Oregon.
N Silver sagebrush Light seed, wind Slightly damaged Vigorous sprouting, May be difference in degree of resprouting between
f-'
dispersed to unharmed seed germination; the two subspecies.
moderate to rapid
Greasewood Light seed, wind Slightly damaged Vigorous basal stem Vigorous resprouting may result in increased density
dispersed to unharmed and some root of stems. Poor seed production the first year after
sprouting; rapid burning. Some stands burn infrequently if at all due
to low amounts of fine fuels.
Rubber rabbitbrush Light seed, wind Unharmed to Vigorous stem sprouting, Reproduces abundantly from heavy seed crop,
Green rabbitbrush dispersed enhanced seed germination; rapid especially in low condition ranges. Rubber rabbit-
Spineless horsebrush to very rapid brush may be more susceptible to injury, especially
if burned after heavy grazing or in early summer.
Horsebrush is toxic to sheep.
Broom snakeweed Light seed, wind Severely damaged Seed germination, weak May be completely removed from an area, but new
dispersed resprouting; moderate plants invade open areas rapidly by seed.
to rapid.
Gambel oak Heavy seed, Enhanced Vigorous stem and Fire stimulates suckering and thickens stands. Tends
gravity di.spersed root sprouting; very to thin out when protected from fire.
rapid
(con.)
Table 1. con.
Common snowberry Rhizomes, seed Slightly damaged Weak to vigorous May be enhanced by cool fire~, but hot fires can
Mountain snowberry to unharmed ·resprouting from basal damage shallow rhizomes. Hountain snowberry is
buds and rhizomes; a weak sprouter.
moderate to rapid
True mountain Moderately heavy Slightly damaged Vigorous sprouting, Little information available on this species.
mahogany seed, wind seed germination; Recovery time probably moderate to rapid, based
dispersed recovery time unknown on its sprouting response.
Curlleaf mountain Moderately heavy Moderate to Seed germination, weak Little information available on this species.
mahogany seed, wind severely damaged sprouting; recovery Reported to be weak sprouter, but shoots died
dispersed time unknown within 2 to 3 years. Recovery from seed probably
slow to moderate.
Ninebark Light seed, wind Unharmed to Basal stem sprouting; Adapted to fire. Best response when burned with
Ocean spray dispersed enhanced moderate moist soils. Usually poor reproduction from seed.
Spiraea
Bittercherry Heavy fleshy Unharmed to Basal stem sprouting; Adapted to fire. Best response when burned with
Chokecherry seed, animal enhanced moderate moist soils. Usually poor reproduction from seed
N
N Currant except for currants that are heat scarified, and
Rose germination is stimulated.
Serviceberry
Snowbrush Heavy seed Unharmed to Vigorous sprouting from Seedling establishment enhanced by fall burns.
enhanced stems, seed is heat Spring burns produce fewer resprouts. Common
scarified; rapid pioneer on high intensity burns.
lPostburn recovery time is based on the number of years required to regain preburn frequency or canopy coverage; slow >10 years, moderate
5 to 10 years, rapid • 2 to 5 years, very rapid = 1 to 2 years.
Table 2. Summary of fire effects on major grass and grasslike species of the sagebrush and pinyon-juniper zones of the Intermountain region
(Wright and others 1979; Volland and Dell 1981). Species are grouped with a genus. See text for scientific names
Kentucky bluegrass Rhizomatous Slight damage Rapid to very rapid Increases primarily by vegetative spread.
sodgrass
Cheatgrass Annual Undamaged Rapid to very rapid Soil seed reserves are reduced and litter loss
results in decreased plant density in the first
year after fire. However, plants are large and
produce abundant seed. Stand reduction is short~
lived and density may exceed preburn levels within
a few years.
N
V-l Idaho fescue Bunchgrass Slight to severe Slow to rapid Densely tufted and fine-stemmed. Can sustain severe
damage from hot summer or fall burns; hut spring
or fall burns with good soil moisture injure plants
much less.
Junegrass Bunchgrass Undamaged Rapid to very rapid Small size and c-oarse-textured foliage result in
little or no injury. Heavy seed production; may
increase in density after burning.
Columbia needlegrass Bunchgrass Moderate damage Moderate to rapid Densely tufted stems make the needlegrasses one of the
Needle-and-thread Bunchgrass Severe damage Moderate to rapid least fire resistant bunchgrasses. Large plants are
Thurber needlegrass Bunchgrass Severe damage Moderate to rapid most severely damaged; hut reduction in basal area
Western needlegrass Bunchgrass Moderate damage Moderate to rapid is likely among all size classes.
Douglas sedge Rhizomatous Undamaged Very rapid Response appears to be related to open growth habit
Threadleaf sedge Tufted bunch Severe damage Moderate to slow and regrowth from ~hizomes. Threadleaf sedge responds
like fine-stemmed, densely tufted bunchgrasses.
Bottlebrush Bunchgrass Undamaged to Rapid to very rapid Coarse stemmed, loosely tufted. One of the most fire
squirrel tail slight damage resistant bunchgrasses. Basal areas may be reduced
from burning in dry year~; but it may increase
several years after burning.
(_con.)
Table 2. con.
Response Postburn
1
Species Growth form to fire recovery time Comments
Bluebunch wheatgrass Bunchgrass Slight damage , Rapid to very rapid Bluebunch wheatgrass is susceptible to injury when
Crested wheatgrass Bunchgrass Undamaged Rapid burned in dry years. Rhizomatous species may
Tall wheatgrass Bunchgrass Undamaged Rapid increase density. Other wheatgrasses are difficult
Intermediate wheatgrass Weakly rhizomatous Undamaged Rapid to burn when seeded in monocultures.
Thickspike wheatgrass Rhizomatous Undamaged Rapid
Western wheatgrass Rhizomatous Undamaged Rapid
1Postburn recovery time is based on the number of years required to regain preburn frequency or canopy coverage: slow >10 years,
moderate = 5 to 10 years, rapid 2 to 5 years.
N
+::>
Annual grasses, including cheatgrass and medusahead, FIRE EFFECTS ON SOIL
suffer reduced densities the year after a burn.
This results from unfavorable microsites for The long-held notion that fire damages soils of
germination and establishment due to loss of range ecosystems has largely been laid to rest
litter cover as well as reduction of seed reserves. through findings of research over the past 30 years.
Recovery is rapid, however, and densities may Although combustion of plant materials results in
ultimately exceed preburn levels. volatilization of nitrogen and sulfur, most nutrients
are added directly to the soil surface as soluble
Our understanding of fire effects on forbs is salts (Daubenmire 1968). These are readily avail-
less than satisfactory. With few exceptions, able for uptake by plants. In most instances
little work has been replicated for a species at both total and available soil nitrogen are observed
different sites or for varying burn conditions; to increase after burning. This is primarily due
and no efforts have investigated response of to stimulation of nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated
permanently marked perennial plants. As a group, with legumes and nonlegume (such as snowbrush)
forbs respond more favorably to fire than do plants and increased rates of organic matter
grasses. Additionally, late summer and fall decomposition (Sharrow and Wright 1977). Increased
burns occur when many forbs are dormant and/or soil temperatures, soil water, and nutrient avail-
after much of the foliage is dry and disinte- ability after a burn are frequently manifest in
grated. As noted by Wright and others (1979), increased production of herbaceous plants.
the best studies of fire effects on forbs involve
controlled burns in sagebrush grasslands of the Nutrients not leached into the soil are subject
upper Snake River Plains of Idaho. These studies to loss through wind and/or water erosion. This
are reported in a series of papers by Blaisdell is the principal concern relative to fire-soil
(1953), Pechanec and others (1954), and Harniss interaction when using controlled burning in
and Murray (1973). Their findings are summarized rangeland communities. Buckhouse and Gifford
in table 3. Species uninjured or slightly injured (1976) found increased levels of phosphorus and
by fire were those that spread by rootstalks or potassium in runoff of simulated rainfall follow-
short shoots (Pechanec and others 1954). These ing slash pile burning in a pinyon-juniper com~
increased most rapidly after burning. Arrowleaf munity. Quantities of nitrate-nitrogen, sodium,
balsamroot and tailcup lupine, although undamaged and calcium were unchanged. However, due to low
by fire, were slow to increase after burning. annual precipitation, the use of fire in sage-
Annual species are also capable of rapid increases brush and pinyon-juniper communities does not
in abundance following burning (see also Piemeisel generally affect erosion or runoff rates except
1938; Barney and Frischknecht 1974; Young and after 25-year storms or on slopes exceeding
Miller 1983). Forbs most severely harmed by fire 30 to 45 percent (Blaisdell and others 1982;
included species with suffretescent growth forms. Wright and Bailey 1982). Soil losses due to wind
25
erosion are also a potential hazard. This is Controlled burning should be restricted to areas
especially true of sandy soils, as has been with sufficient cover of fire-tolerant grasses
reported by Blaisdell (1953). and forbs or where subsequent seeding is practicable
(Blaisdell and others 1982). A precise definition
of "sufficient" cannot be given. As a general
APPLICATION OF PRESCRIBED BURNING rule, though, desirable species should make up
20 percent or more of the plant cover; or, where
Much of the following material, especially the bunchgrass density is at least one plant per
burning prescriptions, has been taken from the square yard (about one plant/m 2 ). Irrespective
more detailed treatments in Wright and others of plant cover, fire should not be used where soils
(1979) and Wright and Bailey (1982). are unstable or on slopes exceeding 30 percent.
Burning sagebrush ranges generally requires a The limitation of spring burning is timing: favor-
minimum of 600 to 700 lb/acre (650 to 750 kg/ha) able burning conditions typically occur for only
of herbaceous fuels and approximately 20 percent short periods. In addition to necessary weather
or more sagebrush cover (Beardall and Sylvester conditions, fine fuels must be sufficiently dry
1976; Britton and Ralphs 1979). Pechanec and and yet burns should be conducted prior to greenup
others (1954) suggest that burning should be of desirable herbaceous species. However, when
considered only where sagebrush forms at least successfully carried out, early spring burning
30 percent of the total plant cover. Many sage- will usually control sagebrush with minimal
brush sites will therefore be difficult or impos- damage to other species.
sible to burn: degraded stands often produce far
less than the necessary amount of fine fuels; and Midsummer burning is not a recommended practice
similarly, shrub cover is frequently below the due to the susceptibility of forage species,
minimum levels required. This is especially true especially bunchgrasses, to damage. Furthermore,
of many Wyoming big sagebrush dominated areas. control problems are greatest during the hot, dry
In general, the more xeric the site, the more conditions prevalent in this season. Late summer
difficult it will be to obtain consistent results burning may be advisable when the area is planned
when using prescribed burning for shrub control. for fall seeding.
Where stands of sagebrush are sufficiently dense How to burn.--Except where shrub coverage is very
or when forbs are abundant in the community, dense, livestock grazing must be excluded from
controlled burning is preferred to herbicide areas to be burned for the entire growing season
application for site improvement. Caution is prior to treatment. This is to provide adequate
advised in using fire where bitterbrush occurs in fine fuels to carry the fire.
significant quantities due to its susceptibility
to damage by fire. Conversely, where rabbitbrush Based upon economic analyses of various size burns
or horsebrush are abundant, fire can result in in sagebrush-grasslands, Davis (1977) suggests that
increased density and cover of these species in most efficient burn units are of about 450 acres
the postburn community, especially in stands of (180 ha). However, as mentioned previously, when
poor to fair condition. burn areas cannot be separately fenced, entire
26
management units should be burned. This may increases, however, production of forage species
best be accomplished by dividing a pasture into will decline. Under these circumstances repeated
several units that will be burned independently. burning at intervals of 20 to 30 years should
maintain the range in satisfactory condition.
In sagebrush-grass vegetation Wright and others
(1979) and Wright and Bailey (1982) suggest the Burning cheatgrass ranges.--Prescribed burning of
following burn prescription: cheatgrass ranges should always be followed by
artificial seeding as native species will rarely
1. A fireline of 10 to 12ft (3.0 to 3.7 m) increase rapidly enough (if at all) to accomplish
width should be dozed around the entire area to management objectives. Firelines can usually be
be burned. constructed using the wetline technique developed
2. During the morning hours, use strip head- by Hartin and others (1977). Fires are backed
fires to construct a 250 ft (75 m) blackline away from a single wetline or allowed to burn out
along the downwind boundaries. Air temperature between two parallel wetlines.
should be 60° to 70° F (16° to 21° C), relative
humidity 25 to 40 percent, and windspeed 6 to Martin and others (1982) recommended the follow-
10 mi/h (8 to 16 km/h). At 250ft (75 m), back- ing prescription for burning cneatgrass ranges:
ing fires can be stopped with a pumper or by
placement of another dozer line. 1. Burns may be conducted any time after
3. In early afternoon, as weather conditions annual grasses are cured and until fall weather
are approaching daily maximum air temperatures prohibits burning. Burn at least 3 days after
and minimum relative humidity, headfire the remaining precipitation to allow litter to dry and thus
area. Recommended conditions include air tempera- insure high seed mortality.
ture of 75° to 85° F (24° to 29° C), relative 2. Weather conditions should consist of air
humidity 15 to 20 percent, and windspeed 8 to temperature 56° to 84° F (10° to 30° C), relative
15 mi/h (13 to 24 km/h). humidity 20 to 45 percent, and windspeed 0 to
10 mi/h (0 to 15 km/h).
Major disadvantages associated with sagebrush 3. Backing fires should be initiated at the
burning are the cost of construction and undesirable downwind lines and combined with strip headlines
effects of bulldozed firelines. These problems to develop a 30 to 100 ft (10 to 30 m) blackline
may be eliminated or minimized where natural Headfire the remainder of the unit. Center or
firebreaks are used. Stands of big sagebrush ringfiring can be used under conditions of no
surrounded by low sagebrush can be safely burned wind.
without preparation of firelines because fire
rarely spreads through this latter type even The Pinyon-Juniper Zone
under high temperatures and windspeeds up to
25 mi/h (40 km/h) (Beardall and Sylvester 1976). The primary uses of fire in pinyon-juniper wood-
Snowbanks may also be used as firelines when lands are (1) to reduce woody trees and shrubs,
conducting spring burns. Beardall and Sylvester allowing recovery of native herbaceous species
(1976) suggest that early spring burning can be or to permit subsequent artificial seeding; and
carried out in areas with greater than 600 lb/acre (2) to increase habitat diversity where the pinyon-
(650 kg/ha) of fine fuels when relative humidity juniper type is continuous over extensive areas.
is less than 60 percent and windspeed is greater The following guidelines are provided for plan-
than 8 mi/h (13 km/h). Britton (personal communi- ning and conducting prescribed burns in the differ-
cation) suggests firelines can be constructed ent pinyon-juniper types of the Intermountain
with heavy grazing around the burn unit to region. Again, this material follows the discus-
remove herbaceous fuels prior to burning. With sion and recommendations found in Wright and
sufficiently low sagebrush cover, the flame others (1979) and Wright and Bailey (1982).
front dies as it passes into the area where fine
fuels have been reduced by grazing. Closed pinyon-juniper (sparse understory).--Dense
stands of pinyon-juniper with little or no shrubs
Postburn management.--Proper grazing management and grasses in the understory are difficult to
following prescribed burning is required to real- burn. To significantly improve these sites,
ize the potential benefits of this treatment. prescribed burning must often be used in combina-
Grazing should not be permitted for at least one tion with mechanical treatment, such as chaining,
and possibly two growing seasons after the burn. and followed by seeding. Without prior treatment,
This will allow native herbaceous species to burning can only be carried out under conditions
regain vigor and take advantage of the increased of high temperatures, low relative humidity,
availability of water and nutrients. Heavy seed and moderate to high windspeed; that is, when
crops are often produced by grasses and forbs fire control will almost certainly be difficult.
during this period. Therefore, it may be desir- Although expensive, mechanical treatment followed
able to permit light grazing in late summer or by burning and/or seeding is a viable means of
fall (after seed dispersal) to improve seed germi- converting closed pinyon-juniper woodlands to
nation and establishment of new plants. productive shrub-grass mixtures.
Because sagebrush is a natural component of the The following prescription is recommended for
vegetation in this region, these rangelands cannot burning in closed stands of pinyon-juniper.
be kept entirely free of sagebrush. Reinvasion
may occur with the best of management efforts. 1. A 10 ft (3 m) dozer line should be placed
Furthermore, eliminating sagebrush from these around the burn area, including parallel lines
areas may not be desirable. As sagebrush density
27
500 ft (150 m) apart along the downwind boundaries. of which is sagebrush. Bruner and Klebenow (1979)
The downwind strips can be chained and the debris have shown that dense, mixed pinyon-juniper-shrub
windrowed in the winter or at any prior time. stands can be burned without firelines. They
2. Windrows within these strips are then have developed a simple index to determine when
burned in early spring or summer when vegetation and where these burns should be attempted. The
of adjacent areas is still green. Conditions at components of this index are total tree and shrub
this time should include air temperatures of 60° cover, air temperature, and maximum windspeed.
to 75° F (16° to 24° C), relative humidity 20 The relationship of these variables and the condi-
to 35 percent, and windspeed 0 to 10 mi/h (0 to tions under which burning is possible are as
16 km/h). follows:
3. The main portion of the burn area is
prepared in the spring by dozing strips 20 to 50 ft INDEX = tree and shrub cover (%)
(6 to 15 m) wide every 0.25 mi (0.4 km) and push- + air temperature (°F)
ing the debris against the windward side of the + maximum windspeed (mi/h)
standing trees. These fuels should be allowed to
cure for 2 to 3 months. where, shrub and tree cover = 45 ~o 60 percent,
4. Burning can then be conducted in the air temperature= 60° to 75° F (16° to 24°C),
summer with air temperatures of 80° to 95° F windspeed = 5 to 25 mi/h (8 to 40 km/h), and rela-
(27° to 35° C), relative humidity less than tive humidity = less than 25 percent. The index
10 percent, and windspeed greater than 8 mi/h must equal or exceed 110 for a fire to carry and
(13 km/h). The dozed fuels are ignited on the upwind kill large pinyon and juniper trees. However, at
side. The burning debris builds sufficiently high values less than 125, reignition of trees may be
fire intensity that, in combination with the winds, necessary. Above 130, conditions are too hazardous
a crown fire will carry through the standing green to burn.
trees.
This method is most useful for burning dense
Nearly pure stands of juniper are difficult to patches of pinyon-juniper-shrublands. However,
burn unless they have been chained. Firelines due to the discontinuity of fuels on these sites,
are constructed as above except that downwind burning of large areas is usually not possible.
strip width need only be 250 ft (75 m) wide. Using this approach, Bruner and Kelbenow (1979)
Piles and windrows within the strips are burned have burned areas varying in size from 5 to 60 acres
when air temperature is 65° to 75° F (18° to 24° C), (2 to 24 ha). Burned sites may be left to reseed
relative humidity 15 to 25 percent, and windspeed naturally or may be aerially seeded.
8 to 10 mi/h (13 to 16 km/h). The main portion
of the burn area is burned any time after chained Postburn management.--Burning can be used to
fuels have cured 2 to 3 months and when air tempera- release existing desirable plants from competition
ture is 90° to 100° F (32° to 38° C), relative with pinyon and juniper. The guidelines presented
humidity is less than 10 percent, and windspeed earlier should be used in deciding if an adequate
is 8 to 10 mi/h (13 to 16 km/h). Because it is response might be expected. In many cases it
often impossible to broadcast burn these sites, will be necessary to artificially seed burned
large crews may be necessary to ignite the scattered areas so that the productive potential of a site
piles and windrows of juniper debris. is realized. Species selection and seeding tech-
niques applicable to the pinyon-juniper and sage-
Mixed pinyon-juniper shrub.--Pinyon-juniper wood- brush zones are discussed in other portions of
lands of the Intermountain region support variable these proceedings. Postburn grazing management
amounts of shrubs, the most common and abundant should follow the recommendations given for sage-
brush communities.
Common and scientific names of some of the plant species in the sagebrush
and pinyon-juniper zones of the Intermountain region.
TREES
28
Bittercherry ~ emarginata
Black sagebrush Artemisia arbuscula ~
Broom snakeweed Xanthocephalum sarothrae
Chokecherry Prunus virginiana
Cliff rose Cowania mexicana stansburiana
Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Curlleaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius
Currant Ribes spp.
Gambel oak Quercus gambelii
Greasewood Sarcobatus vermiculatus
Green rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
Low sagebrush Artemisia arbuscula arbuscula
Mountain silver sagebrush Artemisia cana ssp. viscidula
Hountain snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus oreophilus
Ninebark Physocarpus malvaceus
Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor
Rose Rosa spp.
Rubber (grey) rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus
Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia
Snowberry Ceanothus velutinus
Spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens
Spirea Spiraea betulifolia
Threetip sagebrush Artemisia tripartita ssp. tripartita
True mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montana
FORBS
29
Littleleaf pussytoes Antennaria microphylla
Longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia
Low pussytoes Antennaria dimorpha
Mat eriogonum Eriogonum caespitosum
Matroot penstemon Penstemon radicosus
Northwestern paintbrush Castilleja angustifolia
Orange arnica Arnica fulgens
Pale alyssum Alyssum alyssoides
Pinnate tanseymustard Descurainia pinnata
Plumeweed Cordylanthus ramosus
Purpledaisy fleabane Erigeron corymbosus
Red globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea
Russian thistle Salsola pestifer
Sticky geranium Geranium viscosissimum
Tailcup lupine Lupinus caudatus
Tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata
Tongueleaf violet Viola nuttallii
Tumblemustard ~brium altissimum
Uinta sandwort Arenaria utahensis
Velvet lupine Lupinus leucophyllus
Wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
Western yarrow Achillia millefolium
Whitlow-wart Draba verna
Wild lettuce
------
Lactuca sp.
Wild onion Allium sp.
Wyeth eriogonum EriQiOnum heracleoides
Bruner, A. D.; Klebenow, D. A. Predicting success Harper, J. L. Population biology of plants. New
of prescribed fires in pinyon-juniper woodland York, ~N: Academic Press; 1977. 892 p.
in Nevada. Res. Pap. INT-219. Ogden, UT:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Houston, D. B. Wildfire in northern Yellowstone
Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment National Park. Ecology 54: 1111-1117; 1973.
Station; 1979. 11 p.
30
Hull, A. C.; Stewart G. Replacing cheatgrass by Wright, H. A.; Bailey, A. W. Fire ecology, United
reseeding with perennial grass on southern States and southern Canada. New York: Wiley-
Idaho ranges. J. Amer. Soc. Agron. 40: 694-703; Interscience Publication; 1982. 501 p.
1948.
wright, H. A.; Klemmedson, J. 0. Effects of fire
Jameson, D. A. Effects of burning on a galleta- on bunchgrasses of the sagebrush-grass region
black grama range invaded by juniper. Ecology. in southern Idaho. Ecology 46: 680-688; 1965.
43: 760-763; 1962.
wright, H. A.; Neueschwander, L. F.; Britton, C. M.
Leopold, A. Grass, brush, timber and fire in The role and use of fire in sagebrush-grass
southern Arizona. J. For. 22: 1-10; 1924. and pinyon-juniper plant communities, a state-
of-the-art-review. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-58. Ogden,
Martin, R. E.; Coleman, S. E.; Johnson, A. H. UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Wetline technique for prescribed burning fire- Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experi-
lines in rangeland. Res. Note PNW-292. Portland, ment Station; 1979. 48 p.
OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Young, J. A.; Evans, R. A. Popuiation dynamics
Experiment Station; 1977. 6 p. after wildfires in sagebrush grasslands. J.
Range Manage. 31:283-289; 1978.
Martin, R. E.; Johnson, A. H. Fire management of
Lava Beds National Monument. In: Proceedings Young, J. A.; Evans, R. A.; Raymond, A. Wildfires
of the first conference on scientific research in semiarid Artemisia/Stipa grasslands. In:
in the National Parks: vol. 2; 1976 November Proceedings of the XIII International Grass-
9-12; San Francisco, CA. Washington, DC: U.S. land Congress; 1977 May 18-27; Leipzig, GDR.
Park Service; 1979: 1209-1217. 1977: 109-114.
Martin, R. E.; Olson, C. M.; Sleznick, J. Research/ Young, R. P.; Miller, R. F. Effects of prescribed
management prescribed burning at Lava Beds burning on an annual plant community and estab-
National Monument. In: Starkey, E. E.; lishment of crested wheatgrass. Abstract of
Franklin, J. F.; Matthews, J. W., tech. coords. paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the
Ecological research in National Parks of the Society for Range Hanagement; 1983 February
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on scientific research in the National Parks; for Range Hanagement; 1983: 7.
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31