Rocky Mountain Research Station

Title: Effects of 10 years of fire and climate variability on perennial grass cover in shortgrass steppe

Author: Ford, P. L. (Paulette)

Date: 2008

Source: In: Multifunctional grasslands in a changing world, Volume I; XXI International Grassland Congress; VIII International Rangeland Congress. Beijing, China: Guangdong People's Publishing House: 75.

Description: The objective of this study is to examine the effects of 10 years of fire and climate variability on perennial grass cover in shortgrass steppe. The research is part of a long-term, 18-year study examining effects of fire in the growing vs. dormant season at return intervals of 3, 6, and 9 years. In general, the response of grasslands to fire seems to depend primarily on pre- and post-fire levels of precipitations (Ford, 1999). The southwestern United States has experienced drought 9 of the past 10 years, with an extreme drought occurring in 2002.

Keywords: fire, drought, shortgrass steppe, Buchloe dactyloides, Bouteloua gracilis

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Citation

Ford, P. L. (Paulette)  2008.  Effects of 10 years of fire and climate variability on perennial grass cover in shortgrass steppe.   In: Multifunctional grasslands in a changing world, Volume I; XXI International Grassland Congress; VIII International Rangeland Congress. Beijing, China: Guangdong People's Publishing House: 75..