Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth and nutrient content of perennial grasslands following burning in semi-arid, sub-tropical Australia

  • Published:
Plant Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Fire often increases the productivity of perennial tussock grasslands inmesic environments but can reduce growth for one or more growing seasons inaridand semi-arid environments. We examined effects of single-burns on growth andnutrient content of grasslands in sub-tropical, northwestern Australia. Thesegrasslands were dominated by Themeda triandra, a speciesoften managed by regular burning in wetter temperate and tropical zones. Burnswere in the late dry season and were replicated using small plots (5 ×5-m) within fenced areas at two sites.Total projective cover and aboveground biomass were significantly less in burntplots relative to controls for 2.5 years after burning despite four growingseasons, including the first summer, of above-average rainfall. Recovery ofburnt plots was hindered by an extended dry period in the second year,demonstrating that rainfall in subsequent seasons can be as important asrainfall in the first season in determining post-burn productivity ofgrasslandsin semi-arid environments. Greater decreases in grass cover in burnt plotsduring the extended dry period may have been due to less standing dead andlitter than controls, and therefore less insulation from extreme summertemperatures, although relationships between cover changes and cover at thestart of the period were weak. With the exception of increased pH near grasstussocks, burning had little effect on chemical characteristics of surfacesoilsin the first week. Concentrations of N, and particularly P, in abovegroundplantmaterial were greater in burnt plots four months after burning, followingsummerrains, but were either less than or similar to those in controls withincreasingly dry conditions. Significantly lower concentrations of P in greenfoliage from burnt plots during dry seasons, when uptake from soil pools wouldbe minimal, indicated that burning decreased P retranslocation from plantstores. However, we found no evidence that single-burns increased nutrientlimitations to growth because plant contents of N and P were comparable inburntand control plots during periods of adequate water supply. Our data supportprevious generalizations that prescribed burning of perennial tussockgrasslandsin semi-arid environments is mostly unnecessary because putative benefits ofincreased productivity and forage quality, characteristic of more mesicenvironments, were not realized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ash A.J. and McIvor J.G. 1998. How season of grazing and herbivore selectivity influence monsoon tall-grass communities of northern Australia. J. Veg. Sci. 9: 123-132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey A.W. 1988. Understanding fire ecology for range management. In: Tueller P.T. (ed.), Vegetation Science Applications for Rangeland Analysis and Management. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp. 527-557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baxter B.J.M., Van Staden J., Granger J.E. and Brown N.A.C. 1994. Plant-derived smoke and smoke extracts stimulate seed germination of the fire-climax grass Themeda triandra. Env. and Exp. Bot. 34: 217-223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beard J.S. 1975. The Vegetation of the Pilbara Area. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, Western Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett L.T. and Adams M.A. 1999. Indices for characterising spatial variability of soil nitrogen in semi-arid grasslands of northwestern Australia. Soil Biol. Biochem. 31: 735-746.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett L.T. and Adams M.A. 2001. Response of a perennial grassland to nitrogen and phosphorus additions in sub-tropical, semiarid Australia. J. Arid Environments 48: 289-308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett L.T., Judd T.S. and Adams M.A. 2000. Close-range vertical photography for measuring cover changes in perennial grasslands. J. Range Manage. 53: 634-641.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentley D., Grierson P.F., Bennett L.T. and Adams M.A. 1999.Evaluation of anion exchange membranes to estimate bioavailable phosphorus in native grasslands of semi-arid northwestern Australia. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 30: 2231-2244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blank R.R., Allen F. and Young J.A. 1994. Extractable anions in soils following wildfire in a sagebrush-grass community. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 58: 564-570.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boo R.M., Peláez D.V., Bunting S.C., Elía O.R. and Mayor M.D. 1996. Effect of fire on grasses in central semi-arid Argentina. J. Arid Environments 32: 259-269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briggs J.M. and Knapp A.K. 1995. Interannual variability in primary production in tallgrass prairie: climate, soil moisture, topographic position, and fire as determinants of aboveground biomass. Am. J. Bot. 82: 1024-1030.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busso C.A. 1997. Towards an increased and sustainable production in semi-arid rangelands of central Argentina: two decades of research. J. Arid Environments 36: 197-210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook G.D. 1994. The fate of nutrients during fires in a tropical savanna. Australia J. Ecol. 19: 359-365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danckwerts J.E. 1988. Growth and desiccation of Themeda triandraand Sporobolus fimbriatusin relation to diminishing moisture availability. J. Grassland Soc. South Africa 5: 96-101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danckwerts J.E. and Gordon A.J. 1990. Partitioning, storage and remobilization of 14C assimilated by Themeda triandraForssk. J. Grassland Soc. South Africa 7: 97-105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daubenmire R. 1968. Ecology of fire in grasslands. Adv. Ecol. Res. 5: 209-266.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeBano L.F. and Klopatek J.M. 1988. Phosphorus dynamics of pinyon-juniper soils following simulated burning. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 52: 271-277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Defossé G.E. and Robberecht R. 1996. Effects of competition on the postfire recover of two bunchgrass species. J. Range Manage. 49: 137-142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhillion S.S. and Anderson R.C. 1994. Production on burned and unburned sand prairies during drought and non-drought years. Vegetatio 115: 51-59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dix R.L. 1960. The effects of burning on the mulch structure and species composition of grasslands in western North Dakota. Ecology 41: 49-56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green R.H. 1993. Application of repeated measures designs in environmental impact and monitoring studies. Australian J. Ecol. 18: 81-98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin G.F. 1984. Hummock grasslands. In: Harrington G.N., Wilson A.D. and Young M.D. (eds), Management of Australia's Rangelands. CSIRO Australia, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, pp. 271-284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin G.F. and Friedel M.H. 1984. Effects of fire on central Australian Rangelands. I. Fire and fuel characteristics and changes in herbage and nutrients. Australian J. Ecol. 9: 381-393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves R.H. 1974. Growth of Themeda australisgrassland in response to firing and mowing. Field Station Records Div. Plant Industry CSIRO (Australia) 13: 1-7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heckathorn S.A. and Delucia E.H. 1996. Retranslocation of shoot nitrogen to rhizomes and roots in prairie grasses may limit loss of N to grazing and fire during drought. Functional Ecol. 10: 396-400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgkinson K.C. 1986. Responses of rangeland plants to fire in water-limited environments. In: Joss P.J., Lynch P.W. and Williams O.B. (eds), Rangelands: a resource under siege. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, ACT, Australia, pp. 437-441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgkinson K.C., Harrington G.N., Griffin G.F., Noble J.C. and Young M.D. 1984. Management of vegetation with fire. In: Harrington G.N., Wilson A.D. and Young M.D. (eds), Management of Australia's Rangelands. CSIRO Australia, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, pp. 141-156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulbert L.C. 1988. Causes of fire effects in tallgrass prairie. Ecology 69: 46-58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauffman J.B., Cummings D.L. and Ward D.E. 1994. Relationships of fire, biomass and nutrient dynamics along a vegetation gradient in the Brazilian cerrado. J. Ecol. 82: 519-531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimber R. 1983. Black lightning: aborigines and fire in central Australia and the Western Desert. Archaeology in Oceania 18: 38-45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koerselman W. and Meuleman A.F.M. 1996. The vegetation N:P ratio: a new tool to detect the nature of nutrient limitation. J. Applied Ecol. 33: 1441-1450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kucera C.L., Dahlman R.C. and Koelling M.R. 1967. Total net productivity and turnover on an energy basis for tallgrass prairie. Ecology 48: 536-541.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leigh J.H. and Noble J.C. 1981. The role of fire in the management of rangelands in Australia. In: Gill A.M., Groves R.H. and Noble I.R. (eds), Fire and the Australian Biota. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, ACT, Australia, pp. 471-495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lock J.M. and Milburn T.R. 1971. The seed biology of Themeda triandraForsk in relation to fire. In: Duffey E. and Watt A. (eds), The Scientific Management of Animal and Plant Communities for Conservation. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford, UK, pp. 337-349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore R.M. 1970. Australian Grasslands. In: Moore R.M. (ed.), Australian Grasslands. Australian National University Press, Canberra, ACT, Australia, pp. 87-100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan J.W. 1998. Small-scale plant dynamics in temperate Themeda triandragrasslands of southeastern Australia. J. Veg. Sci. 9: 347-360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan J.W. 1999. Defining grassland fire events and the response of perennial plants to annual fire in temperate grasslands of south-eastern Australia. Plant Ecol. 144: 127-144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan J.W. and Lunt I.D. 1999. Effects of time-since-fire on the tussock dynamics of a dominant grass (Themeda triandra) in a temperate Australian grassland. Biol. Cons. 88: 379-386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mott J.J. and Andrew M.H. 1985. The effect of fire on the population dynamics of native grasses in tropical savannas of northwest Australia. Proc. Ecol. Soc. Australia 13: 231-239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson D.W. and Sommers L.E. 1996. Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Bartels J.M. (ed.), Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods. Soil Science Society of America and American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp. 961-1010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble J.C., Harrington G.N. and Hodgkinson K.C. 1986. The ecological significance of irregular fire in Australian rangelands. In: Joss P.J., Lynch P.W. and Williams O.B. (eds), Rangelands: A Resource under Siege. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, ACT, Australia, pp. 577-580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northcote K.H. 1979. A factual key for the recognition of Australian soils. Rellim Technical Publications Pty Ltd, Adelaide.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noy-Meir I. 1973. Desert ecosystems: environment and producers. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 4: 25-52.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor T.G. 1996. Hierarchical control over seedling recruitment of the bunch-grass Themeda triandrain a semi-arid savanna. J. Applied Ecol. 33: 1094-1106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oesterheld M. and McNaughton S.J. 1988. Intraspecific variation in the response of Themeda triandrato defoliation: the effect of time of recovery and growth rates on compensatory growth. Oecologia 77: 181-186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ojima D.S., Schimel D.S., Parton W.J. and Owensby C.E. 1994. Long-and short-term effects of fire on nitrogen cycling in tallgrass prairie. Biogeochem 24: 67-84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Old S.M. 1969. Microclimate, fire and plant production in an Illinois prairie. Ecol. Monogr 39: 355-384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orr D.M. 1975. A review of Astrebla(mitchell grass) pastures in Australia. Trop. Grasslands 9: 21-36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redmann R.E., Romo J.T., Pylypec R.B. and Driver E.A. 1993. Impacts of burning on primary productivity of Festucaand Stipa-Agropyrongrasslands in central Saskatchewan. Am. Midland Nat. 130: 262-273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds H.G. and Bohning J.W. 1956. Effects of burning on a desert grass-shrub range in southern Arizona. Ecology 37: 769-777.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowell J.G. and Walters D.E. 1976. Analysing data with repeated observations on each experimental unit. J. Agric. Sci. 87: 423-432.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scanlan J.C. 1980. Effects of spring wildfire on Astrebla(mitchell grass) grasslands in north-west Queensland under varying levels of growing season rainfall. Australian Rangeland J. 2: 162-168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seastedt T.R., Briggs J.M. and Gibson D.J. 1991. Controls of N limitation in tallgrass prairie. Oecologia 87: 72-79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyman H.A. 1993. The effect of defoliation during wilting on the production of Themeda triandraand Eragrostis lehmannianain semi-arid grassland. African J. Range For. Sci. 10: 113-117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stafford Smith D.M. and Morton S.R. 1990. A framework for the ecology of arid Australia. J. Arid Environments 18: 255-278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suijdendorp H. 1981. Responses of the hummock grasslands of northwestern Australia to fire. In: Gill A.M., Groves R.H. and Noble I.R. (eds), Fire and the Australian biota. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, ACT, Australia, pp. 417-424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Technicon Instruments 1977. Individual/Simultaneous determination of nitrogen and/or phosphorus in BD acid digests. Industrial Method No. 329-74 W./B/. Technicon Industrial Systems, Tarrytown, New York, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tongway D. and Hindley N. 1995. Manual for Soil Condition Assessment of Tropical Grasslands. CSIRO Australia, Canberra, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker B.H., Langridge J.L. and McFarlane F. 1997. Resilience of an Australian savanna grassland to selective and non-selective perturbations. Australian J. Ecol. 22: 125-135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace L.L., McNaughton S.J. and Coughenour M.B. 1985. Effects of clipping and four levels of nitrogen on the gas exchange, growth, and production of two east African graminoids. Am. J. Bot. 72: 222-230.

    Google Scholar 

  • West N.E. 1981. Nutrient cycling in desert ecosystems. In: Goodall D.W. and Perry R.A. (eds), Arid-land Ecosystems: Structure, Functioning and Management. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 301-323.

    Google Scholar 

  • West O. 1965. Fire in vegetation and its use in pasture management with special reference to tropical and subtropical Africa. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Farnham Royal, Bucks, UK, Mimeographed publication No. 1/1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whelan R.J. 1995. The Ecology of Fire. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, 6907, Australia

    L.T. Bennett, L.T. Bennett, T.S. Judd & M.A. Adams

Authors
  1. L.T. Bennett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T.S. Judd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M.A. Adams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L.T. Bennett.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bennett, L., Judd, T. & Adams, M. Growth and nutrient content of perennial grasslands following burning in semi-arid, sub-tropical Australia. Plant Ecology 164, 185–199 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021253600712

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021253600712

Search

Navigation