Jc. Sparks et al., EFFECTS OF LATE GROWING-SEASON AND LATE DORMANT-SEASON PRESCRIBED FIRE ON HERBACEOUS VEGETATION IN RESTORED PINE-GRASSLAND COMMUNITIES, Journal of vegetation science, 9(1), 1998, pp. 133-142
We compared the effects of late dormant-season and late growing-season
prescribed fires on herbaceous species in restored shortleaf pine-(Pi
nus echinata) grassland communities in the Ouachita Highlands of weste
rn Arkansas. Herbaceous species richness, diversity, and total forb an
d legume abundance increased following fire. Late growing-season burns
reduced distribution and abundance of panicums (primarily Panicum bos
cii, P. dichotomum, and P. linearifolium) while late dormant-season bu
rns increased Panicum distribution and abundance. Density of legumes (
such as Stylosanthes biflora) increased following frequent or annual d
ormant-season fires. However, season of fire influenced the distributi
on and abundance of fewer than 10 % of the species. Fire plays an esse
ntial role in pine-grassland communities by creating and maintaining o
pen canopy conditions that perpetuate understory herbaceous plant comm
unities.