Snyman, H.A. (2004) Estimating the short-term impact of fire on rangeland productivity in a semi-arid climate of South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments, 59 (4). pp. 685-697.
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Abstract
The short-term (2 years) influence of fire burning with the wind (head fire) and against the wind (back fire) on the productivity (above-ground phytomass and litter) and fire behaviour were determined over seven growing seasons (1995/96–2001/02) in a semi-arid rangeland. The results showed that head fires had significantly greater flame height and rate of spread than back fires. Fire caused a decrease of 40.5% and 22.5% in basal cover for the first and second seasons after burning respectively. The seasonal above-ground phytomass production and litter were significantly decreased by fire over all growing seasons. Seasonal production losses due to fire varied between 225 and 430 kg ha−1. The relation between above-ground phytomass production loss due to fire, and two independent variables namely seasonal rainfall and fuel load (above-ground phytomass plus litter) before burning, were investigated. The multiple linear regression equations obtained for one (r=0.89) and 2 years (r=0.86) after a fire, can be used with great success in estimating seasonal production losses due to fire in semi-arid rangeland
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Above-ground phytomass production; Back and head fires; Basal cover; Fuel load; Litter |
| Author Affiliation: | Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa |
| Subjects: | Atmosperic Science > Climatology |
| Divisions: | General |
| Depositing User: | Ms K Syamalamba |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Jan 2012 06:10 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Jan 2012 06:10 |
| Official URL: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S... |
| URI: | http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/2988 |
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