Effects of Fire on Texas Wintergrass Communities

Abstract

The effect of season of burning on standing crop, point frequency, density, and reproductive vigor of Texas wintergrass (Stipa leucotricha Trin. & Rupr.) communities was measured in this study. Additional information on the effects of fire on Texas wintergrass will aid resource managers plan the use of fire in these communities. Burning or clipping Texas wintergrass did not significantly affect the number of reproductive culms per plant in the northern Edwards Plateau region of Texas. Burning, regardless of season, reduced standing crops for 1 year and burning in January or March reduced Texas wintergrass point frequency for 1 year. Burning where annual cool-season grasses were abundant in the southern Rolling Plains tended to increase Texas wintergrass density, point frequency, and standing crop, apparently a result of reduced competition from annual plants. Increases in Texas wintergrass point frequency and standing crop were greater following burning in the fall than following burning in the spring. Prescribed burning in Texas wintergrass communities generally killed annual grasses and forbs if burning occurred subsequent to seedling emergence. However, soil reserves of seed and/or subsequent seed immigration into burned areas appeared to be sufficient to reestablish populations of annual plants during the second year following burning. Annual grass populations consistently tended to be higher in the second year after burning than on unburned rangeland.