Main Results Prescribed Fire Summary

Forage production of all grasses combined was tripled at the ponderosa pine site on areas partially-cut to allow a 44% increase of understory light compared to areas partially-cut to allow 17% more understory light (408 kg/ha versus 125 kg/ha, respectively)(Fig. 1). Most of the forage increase was due to pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens) with some contribution from bunchgrass. Bunchgrass production alone did not respond to the harvesting treatments. Total forage production was almost doubled at the Douglas-fir site.

Figure 1. Production of all grasses combined at the ponderosa pine site from 1999 (pre-treatment year) to 2006. The ratio of rough fescue (Festuca campestris) frequency to pinegrass frequency has decreased slightly over time at both sites, an indication that pinegrass is “winning the race” relative to rough fescue (Fig. 2). The frequency of rough fescue, and most other codominant species, has decreased over time at both sites, although this was not linked to the harvest treatments. Figure 2. Frequency of pinegrass and rough fescue at the ponderosa pine site from 1999 (pre-treatment year) to 2006.

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Last Modified: 2007 April 25. Ministry contact: Reg Newman. Webmaster: For.Prodres@gov.bc.ca