Publication Date
1989
Description
Fire has long influenced the development, maintenance and productivity of nearly 80% of the Uganda natural grasslands which are important for livestock grazing. However, traditional burning appears to reduce the productivity of these natural pastures, especially in the Acacia/savanna grassland since there is no proper fire regime (fire intensity, severity and frequency) used by these pastoralists/as there is limited research that gives reliable data on how to use prescribed fires on these pastures lands (Sabiiti et al., 1986; Sabiiti and Wein, 1987; Harrington, 1974). Consequently, most of these pastures have been invaded by coarse and less nutritive grass species (Cymbopogon, Imperata, Hyparrhenia and Sporobolus) which appear to be favoured by poor fire management practices. The concept of fire behaviour developed by Byram (1959) offers one of the best approaches in understanding fire effects because the results can be used to develop predictive fire models and the results can be repeated by others (Rothermel and Deeming, 1980; Sabiiti and Wein, 1987). Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the influence of a fire regime on the productivity (herbage yield and nutritive value (% CP) of a natural grassland.
Citation
Sabiiti, E N. and Wein, R W., "Fire Effects on Herbage Yield and Nutritive Value of Natural Grasslands in Uganda" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 44.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session13b/44
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Fire Effects on Herbage Yield and Nutritive Value of Natural Grasslands in Uganda
Fire has long influenced the development, maintenance and productivity of nearly 80% of the Uganda natural grasslands which are important for livestock grazing. However, traditional burning appears to reduce the productivity of these natural pastures, especially in the Acacia/savanna grassland since there is no proper fire regime (fire intensity, severity and frequency) used by these pastoralists/as there is limited research that gives reliable data on how to use prescribed fires on these pastures lands (Sabiiti et al., 1986; Sabiiti and Wein, 1987; Harrington, 1974). Consequently, most of these pastures have been invaded by coarse and less nutritive grass species (Cymbopogon, Imperata, Hyparrhenia and Sporobolus) which appear to be favoured by poor fire management practices. The concept of fire behaviour developed by Byram (1959) offers one of the best approaches in understanding fire effects because the results can be used to develop predictive fire models and the results can be repeated by others (Rothermel and Deeming, 1980; Sabiiti and Wein, 1987). Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the influence of a fire regime on the productivity (herbage yield and nutritive value (% CP) of a natural grassland.
