Research on fire in tallgrass prairie focuses almost exclusively on do
rmant season fires, primarily in winter and spring. Relatively little
is known about the response of tallgrass prairie vegetation to growing
-season fires or follow-up management. We evaluated vegetation respons
e of grazed, high-seral tallgrass prairies to herbicides after late-su
mmer burning. Dry matter yields of little bluestem [Schizachyrium scop
arium (Michx.) Nash], other perennial grasses, total perennial grasses
, and total herbage were significantly reduced by late-summer burning.
Tallgrass and annual grass standing crop did not differ between burn
treatments. Forb standing crop on burned plots averaged about twice th
at of unburned plots. Follow-up treatment with 2,4-D[(2,4-dichlorophen
oxy)acetic acid] significantly reduced forb standing crop compared to
atrazine yl-N'-(l-methylethyl)-l,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine]. Standing c
rop of tallgrasses and total perennial grasses was greater on plots tr
eated with 2,4-D than on plots treated with no herbicide or with atraz
ine. Because late-summer burning did not severely reduce herbage produ
ction nor drastically alter community composition for more than 1 year
, late-summer burning may be a viable alternative for brush control an
d for improving wildlife habitat in high-seral tallgrass prairie. If m
anagement objectives require reduced forb production and increased per
ennial grass production following late-summer burning, application of
2,4-D would be an appropriate management practice.