Publication Date
1993
Description
Fire is regarded as a natural factor of the environment in southern Africa and the effect of fire on rangeland depends upon the fire regime, i.e., type and intensity of fire and season and frequency of burning, The most common types of fire in grassland and savanna areas are surface fires burning either as head or back fires. Head fires have the least depressive effect on the recovery of the grass sward and cause high« topkill of stems and branches of trees and shrubs than back r1res, Fire intensity has no significant effect on the recovery of the grass sward and the mortality of trees and shrubs. Generally, the main effect of fire on bush In the savanna areas is to cause a topkill of stems and branches forcing the plants to coppice from the collar region of the stem. This effect is positively conelated with fire intensity, Fire causes the least damage to the grass sward when the plants are dormant, while trees and shrubs are apparently not sensitive to the season of burning, The frequency of burning has a marked effect on the presence and absence of different grass species and on the physiognomic structure of trees and shrubs. Conversely it has very little effect on the density of woody vegetation.
Citation
Trollope, Winston S.W, "Effects of the Fire Regime on Grassland and Savanna Rangelands in Southern Africa" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session11/8
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effects of the Fire Regime on Grassland and Savanna Rangelands in Southern Africa
Fire is regarded as a natural factor of the environment in southern Africa and the effect of fire on rangeland depends upon the fire regime, i.e., type and intensity of fire and season and frequency of burning, The most common types of fire in grassland and savanna areas are surface fires burning either as head or back fires. Head fires have the least depressive effect on the recovery of the grass sward and cause high« topkill of stems and branches of trees and shrubs than back r1res, Fire intensity has no significant effect on the recovery of the grass sward and the mortality of trees and shrubs. Generally, the main effect of fire on bush In the savanna areas is to cause a topkill of stems and branches forcing the plants to coppice from the collar region of the stem. This effect is positively conelated with fire intensity, Fire causes the least damage to the grass sward when the plants are dormant, while trees and shrubs are apparently not sensitive to the season of burning, The frequency of burning has a marked effect on the presence and absence of different grass species and on the physiognomic structure of trees and shrubs. Conversely it has very little effect on the density of woody vegetation.
