Cataloging Information
Fuel Treatments & Effects
Prescribed Fire-use treatments
Prescribed burning can be an effective tool to manage sagebrush grasslands. However, burning prescriptions for sagebrush grasslands vary depending on the management objectives, species composition of the community, and location. To develop successful fire prescriptions in these communities, consideration must first be given to the management objectives. Second, the past and future management of the area has to be considered to determine if prescribed burning is a viable alternative. Once these have been established, the species composition, fuel load, fuel continuity, and weather are considered. These factors will determine the burning prescription used and follow-up management needed for prescribed burning to be successful in sagebrush-grassland sites with cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Prescribed burning will only decrease cheatgrass in the short run, so it should only be used as a seedbed preparation technique where cheatgrass dominates the understory.