Fuel and fire characteristics in savanna–woodland of West Africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type

Fuel characteristics, fire behaviour and temperature were studied in relation to grazing, dominant grass type and wind direction in West African savanna–woodland by lighting 32 prescribed early fires. Grazing significantly reduced the vegetation height, total fuel load, and dead and live fuel fracti...

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Main Authors: Savadogo, P., Zida, D., Sawadogo, L., Tiveau, D., Tigabu, M., Oden, P.C.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/19738
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author Savadogo, P.
Zida, D.
Sawadogo, L.
Tiveau, D.
Tigabu, M.
Oden, P.C.
author_browse Oden, P.C.
Savadogo, P.
Sawadogo, L.
Tigabu, M.
Tiveau, D.
Zida, D.
author_facet Savadogo, P.
Zida, D.
Sawadogo, L.
Tiveau, D.
Tigabu, M.
Oden, P.C.
author_sort Savadogo, P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Fuel characteristics, fire behaviour and temperature were studied in relation to grazing, dominant grass type and wind direction in West African savanna–woodland by lighting 32 prescribed early fires. Grazing significantly reduced the vegetation height, total fuel load, and dead and live fuel fractions whereas plots dominated by perennial grasses had higher values for vegetation height, total fuel load and the quantity of live fuel load. Although fire intensity remained insensitive (P>0.05) to any of these factors, fuel consumption was significantly (P =0.021) reduced by grazing, rate of spread was faster in head fire (P =0.012), and flame length was shorter in head fire than back fire (P =0.044). The average maximum temperature was higher (P<0.05) on non-grazed plots, on plots dominated by annual grasses, on plots subjected to head fire, and at the soil surface. Lethal temperature residence time showed a nearly similar trend to fire temperature.Wind speed and total fuel load were best predictors of fire behaviour parameters (R2 ranging from 0.557 to 0.862). It can be concluded that grazing could be used as a management tool to modify fire behaviour, back fire should be carried out during prescribed burning to lower fire severity, and the fire behaviour models can be employed to guide prescribed early fire in the study area.
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spelling CGSpace197382025-01-24T14:20:37Z Fuel and fire characteristics in savanna–woodland of West Africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type Savadogo, P. Zida, D. Sawadogo, L. Tiveau, D. Tigabu, M. Oden, P.C. savannas woodlands fire behaviour weather models Fuel characteristics, fire behaviour and temperature were studied in relation to grazing, dominant grass type and wind direction in West African savanna–woodland by lighting 32 prescribed early fires. Grazing significantly reduced the vegetation height, total fuel load, and dead and live fuel fractions whereas plots dominated by perennial grasses had higher values for vegetation height, total fuel load and the quantity of live fuel load. Although fire intensity remained insensitive (P>0.05) to any of these factors, fuel consumption was significantly (P =0.021) reduced by grazing, rate of spread was faster in head fire (P =0.012), and flame length was shorter in head fire than back fire (P =0.044). The average maximum temperature was higher (P<0.05) on non-grazed plots, on plots dominated by annual grasses, on plots subjected to head fire, and at the soil surface. Lethal temperature residence time showed a nearly similar trend to fire temperature.Wind speed and total fuel load were best predictors of fire behaviour parameters (R2 ranging from 0.557 to 0.862). It can be concluded that grazing could be used as a management tool to modify fire behaviour, back fire should be carried out during prescribed burning to lower fire severity, and the fire behaviour models can be employed to guide prescribed early fire in the study area. 2007 2012-06-04T09:12:41Z 2012-06-04T09:12:41Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/19738 en Savadogo, P., Zida, D., Sawadogo, L., Tiveau, D., Tigabu, M., Oden, P.C. 2007. Fuel and fire characteristics in savanna–woodland of West Africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type . International Journal of Wildland Fire 16 :531û539.
spellingShingle savannas
woodlands
fire behaviour
weather
models
Savadogo, P.
Zida, D.
Sawadogo, L.
Tiveau, D.
Tigabu, M.
Oden, P.C.
Fuel and fire characteristics in savanna–woodland of West Africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type
title Fuel and fire characteristics in savanna–woodland of West Africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type
title_full Fuel and fire characteristics in savanna–woodland of West Africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type
title_fullStr Fuel and fire characteristics in savanna–woodland of West Africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type
title_full_unstemmed Fuel and fire characteristics in savanna–woodland of West Africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type
title_short Fuel and fire characteristics in savanna–woodland of West Africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type
title_sort fuel and fire characteristics in savanna woodland of west africa in relation to grazing and dominant grass type
topic savannas
woodlands
fire behaviour
weather
models
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/19738
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