Use prescribed burning to control grass

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 2
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

0%
Certainty

20%
Harms

15%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

This section considers the use of prescribed fire to control problematic grass species in shrublands. Fire may damage or kill grasses therefore reducing competition between with other shrubland vegetation. This may allow shrubland plants to increase in abundance.

Study locations

Key messages

One replicated controlled, paired, before-and-after study in the UK found that prescribed burning to reduce the cover of purple moor grass, did not reduce its cover but did reduce the cover of common heather.
One randomized, replicated, controlled study in the UK found that prescribed burning initially reduced vegetation height, but this recovered over time.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A randomized, replicated, controlled, paired, before-and-after study in 1996-1999 in wet heathland in Northumberland, UK (Ross et al. 2003) found that burning to reduce the cover of purple-moor grass Molinia caerulea reduced cover of common heather Calluna vulgaris but did not reduce cover of purple-moor grass. Cover of common heather was lower after burning than before burning (after: 20-50%, before: 71-97%) and was lower than in plots that were not burned (68-93%). Cover of purple-moor grass in plots that had been burned was not significantly different to that in plots that had not been burned (no data presented). In April 1996 six 10 x 10 m plots were burned and six plots were not burned. In 995 five 1 m² quadrats were established in each plot and vegetation was surveyed in July 1995 and 1997-1999. The area was used for livestock and density of sheep varied from 0.66 to 1.5 ewes/ha.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Ross S., Adamson H. & Moon A. (2003) Evaluating management techniques for controlling Molinia caerulea and enhancing Calluna vulgaris on upland wet heathland in northern England, UK. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 97, 39-49.
A randomized, replicated, controlled study in 1995–2000 in four moorland sites in the UK (Marrs et al. 2004) found that prescribed burning to reduce the cover of purple moor grass Molinia caerulea initially reduced vegetation height, but this subsequently recovered. Immediately after prescribed burning vegetation height was lower in burned plots than in unburned plots, however after five years there was no longer a difference in height between burned and unburned plots (no data reported). In 1995 two blocks were established on each site and half of each block was burned. Fencing was established to limit grazing in two plots within each burned area but one plot was left unfenced. Within each plot the herbicide glyphosate was applied in two subplots and one subplot was not sprayed. Vegetation height was measured in 20 random locations with a sward stick in each plot.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Marrs R.H., Phillips J.D.P., Todd P.A., Ghorbani J. & Le Duc M.G. (2004) Control of Molinia caerulea on upland moors. Journal of Applied Ecology, 41, 398-411.

Please cite as:

Martin, P.A., Rocha, R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Shrubland and Heathland Conservation. Pages 483-525 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Shrubland and Heathland Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Use herbicide and prescribed burning to control grass Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link
Cut/mow and rotovate to control grass Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link
Cut/mow to control grass and sow seed of shrubland plants Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	3	Synopsis Link