08/31/2026
How does prairie grass respond to multiple fires?
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Root biomass, shoot biomass and flowering stalks ALL INCREASED with more fires.
Big Bluestem Flowering Stalks (after 10 years)
0 burns = 3 stalks/sq ft
2 burns = 3 stalks/sq ft
3 burns = 5 stalks/sq ft
4 burns = 12 stalks/sq ft
Big Bluestem Root Biomass (after 10 years)
0 burns = 8,000 lbs/ac
2 burns = 10,000 lbs/ac
3 burns = 11,200 lbs/ac
4 burns = 11,600 lbs/ac
Big Bluestem Shoot Biomass (after 10 years)
0 burns = 3,200 lbs/ac
2 burns = 3,200 lbs/ac
3 burns = 5,200 lbs/ac
4 burns = 12,100 lbs/ac
Data from Elmer et al. 1963 Productivity of Two Prairie Grasses in Relation to Fire Frequency
https://www.jstor.org/stable/1932186
