Post-fire herbicide sprays enhance native plant diversity
Following catastrophic fire, broad-spectrum herbicides such as hexazinone are often used to control shrubs and forbs that compete with planted conifers. This practice encourages rapid growth and reduces mortality of conifers. Although the initial effect is to reduce native...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
1997-01-01
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| Series: | California Agriculture |
| Online Access: | http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v051n01p6 |
| Summary: | Following catastrophic fire, broad-spectrum herbicides such as hexazinone are often
used to control shrubs and forbs that compete with planted conifers. This practice
encourages rapid growth and reduces mortality of conifers. Although the initial effect
is to reduce native plant species richness, recovery is rapid and plant diversity
exceeds that in untreated areas within 8 years of application. Success of native forb
and grass species in herbicide-treated areas appears to be due to early suppression
of otherwise dominant shrubs. |
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| ISSN: | 0008-0845 2160-8091 |