The effect of fire on the population dynamics of native grasses in tropical savannas of north-west Australia. [Conference paper]
1985
Mott, J.J. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, St Lucia (Australia). Div. of Tropical Crops and Pastures) | Andrew, M.H. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Winnellie (Australia). Div. of Tropical Crops and Pastures)
In annual Sorghum spp., Themeda australis and Dichanthium fecundum, there was no long-term soil store of dormant seed, with all seed either germinating or becoming inviable in the wet season following seed fall. In swards dominated by T. australis, a 6-year study showed that all seedlings germinating in one wet season died in the following dry with no recruitment into the mature swards; in biennially burnt swards there was no death of mature clumps over this period, but in unburnt swards plants senesced, with large clumps breaking into isolated tillers and annual dry matter production dropping markedly. Historical data showed that weather conditions normally allowed Sorghum spp. to set seed, giving persistence of the community even without long-term seed survival.
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