How does prescribed fire benefit warm season grasses and promote vegetation growth and productivity?
The use of prescribed burns in grassland management provides a dynamic process of renewal for those prairie species that thrive in this particular environment. Exposing the landscape to controlled episodes of fire eliminates the cool season grasses and woody vegetation that invade tallgrass prairie habitats. The growth tissues of cool season grasses are located above the ground and are easily destroyed by fire. Conversely, fire stimulates the growth of fire-tolerant warm season grasses and other prairie forbs, which have growth points below ground that are thus protected from damage. Dead accumulated vegetative matter is burned off in a prescribed burn, which in turn reduces nitrogen levels and increases light exposure to the ground. The ash left behind from a prescribed burn warms and nourishes the soil, and makes available the nutrients previously stored in the burned plant materials. All of these factors contribute to create ideal environmental growing conditions for tallgrass speci
