Forage kochia helps fight range fires

Abstract

Rangeland wildfires in the Intermountain West have dramatically increased since 1979, placing a major economic burden on private and public land managers to control or suppress these fires (Pellant 1990). Perhaps more important is the loss of natural resources and degradation of ecological sites and ecosystems that result from repeated burning. Frequent wildfires prevent the establishment of native shrub, forb, and perennial grass plant communities and increase the dominance of invasive annual weedy species. One of the major contributors to increased wildfires is cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), which inhibits the establishment of native perennial species through competition for moisture. Cheatgrass currently occupies many burned and disturbed western rangeland sites and provides an early maturing, fine textured fuel that increases the chance of ignition as well as the rate, spread, and frequency of wildfire. Information on the fire suppression characteristics of forage kochia exists in symposium proceedings and in-house reports, but there are no published research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Thus, we have reviewed available research findings and conducted telephone interviews to assess the ability of forage kochia to suppress wildfires. Our purpose is to summarize forage kochia's greenstripping utility and to suggest future research needs. This information will benefit land managers who continually deal with rangeland wildfires.