THE EFFECTS OF MUIRBURNING MOLINIA‐DOMINANT COMMUNITIES
- 1 September 1963
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Grass and Forage Science
- Vol. 18 (3) , 249-257
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.1963.tb00359.x
Abstract
The effect of muirburn (that is, periodic burning of rough land) on Molinia caerulea dominant communities of south‐east Scotland has been studied. The weight of burnable litter has been assessed at 1809 lb dry matter/acre and the chemical composition of this DM as SFA 0·64%, P2O5 0·23%, CaO 0·13%, MgO 0·05%, and K2O 0·19%. Data are also given on the chemical composition of Molinia leaf from both burnt and unburnt areas. The effect of burning, of raking off the litter and of manurial applications on the growth of Molinia and on the botanical composition of the sward is reported, as is the effect of different frequencies of burning. The agronomic value of muirburning is discussed. In the opinion of the authors the practice of muirburning Molinia is not be to recommended unless the burned areas are closely grazed.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of Burning and Clipping on Growth of Native Prairie in IowaJournal of Range Management, 1959
- Current Data on the Chemical Composition of Air and PrecipitationTellus, 1955