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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Natalie A. Rossiter-Rachor; Samantha A. Setterfield; Michael M. Douglas; Lindsay B. Hutley; Garry D. Cook
Publication Date: 2008

Invasive alien grasses can substantially alter fuel loads and fire regimes which could have significant consequences for fire-mediated nutrient losses. The effects of the alien grass Andropogon gayanus Kunth. (Gamba grass) on fire-mediated nutrient losses was evaluated in Australia's tropical savannas. Losses of macronutrients during fire were determined by comparing the nutrient pools contained in the fine fuel before fire and in the ash after fire. Pre-fire grass nutrient pools were significantly higher in A. gayanus plots than in native grass plots for all nutrients measured (N, P, K, S, Ca, and Mg). Nutrient losses were substantially higher in A. gayanus plots, with 113% higher losses for N, 80% for P, 56% for K, 63% for S, 355% for Ca, and 345% for Mg. However, only losses of N and Mg varied significantly between grass types. A simplified savanna ecosystem nutrient budget estimated that A. gayanus fires led to the net N loss of 20 kg ha-1 y-1. This is a conservative estimate because total fuel loads were relatively low (7.85 t ha-1) for A. gayanus invaded plots leading to a relatively moderate intensity fire (6,408 kW m-1). Higher A. gayanus fuel loads and fire intensities could potentially lead to losses of up to 61.5 kg N ha-1 from the grass fuel. Over the long term, this is likely to lead to depletion of soil nutrients, particularly N, in the already low-fertility tropical savanna soils.

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Citation: Rossiter-Rachor, N.A.; Setterfield, Samantha A.; Douglas, Michael M.; Hutley, Lindsay B.; Cook, Garry D. 2008. Andropogon gayanus (Gamba Grass) invasion increases fire-mediated nitrogen losses in the tropical savannas of northern Australia. Ecosystems 11(1):77-88.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Keywords:
  • alien species
  • Andropogon gayanus
  • Andropogon spp.
  • ash
  • Australia
  • biological invasions
  • Ca - calcium
  • ecosystem dynamics
  • exotic grasses
  • fine fuels
  • fire intensity
  • fire management
  • fire regimes
  • fuel consumption
  • fuel loading
  • fuel management
  • gamba grass
  • grasses
  • invasive species
  • K - potassium
  • litter
  • magnesium
  • N - nitrogen
  • nutrient cycling
  • nutrient loss
  • nutrients
  • P - phosphorus
  • precipitation
  • range management
  • S - sulfur
  • savannas
  • soil nutrients
  • soils
  • statistical analysis
  • tropical savannas
  • wildfires
Tall Timbers Record Number: 22562Location Status: In-fileCall Number: Fire FileAbstract Status: Fair use, Okay, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 11729

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.