Effect of Fire on Southern Mixed Prairie Grasses

Abstract

The long-term effect of fire was studied on the major grass species of west Texas when the winter-spring precipitation was 0 to 40% above normal. This and other studies indicate that sideoats grama and Texas wintergrass are harmed by fire. Buffalograss, blue grama, and sand dropseed were neither harmed nor benefited by fire. Vine-mesquite, Arizona cottontop, little bluestem, plains bristlegrass, and Texas cupgrass increased after burning for 1 or 2 years.