Abstract:
The effect of fire on vegetation of semi
-
arid steppe has not bee
n studied extensively.
Wildfires are rare in some steppe rangelands because of high levels of large herbivore
grazing. However, grazing is sometimes restricted or excluded in areas such as national
parks or the areas where afforestation projects are conduc
ted. Therefore, sometimes,
wildfires occur during the dormant season when litter (
the uppermost layer of organic
debris on the soil surface; essentially the freshly fallen or slightly decomposed vegetal
material
) mass has resulted in peak levels. Our study
assessed the effects of a single fire on
litter mass, forage production, and forage crude protein, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF),
and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) in high altitude rangelands of Eastern Anatolia. We
found significant effects of treatment (fi
re and no fire), years, and sampling date on all
variables. Following the prescribed fire in 2011, litter mass and forage production was
less in treated plots compared to untreated control plots during both years. The effect of
the fire on litter and forag
e production was more pronounced in 2012 compared to 2013.
The effects of the fire on forage quality variables were also greater in 2012 than in 2013.
Forage crude protein levels were consistently higher in treated plots during all 2012
sampling periods. S
imilarly, NDF and ADF tended to be lower in treated plots relative to
the control plots during 2012. All effects we found were more pronounced in the first
growing season following the fire compared to the second growing season, suggesting a
relatively tra
nsient nature of fire effects in the steppe vegetation we studied.
Keywords:
ADF,
Litter mass,
NDF,
O
rganic debris,
Semi
-
arid rangelands.
