This research assessed the effects of targeted cattle grazing on flame length and rate of spread on rangelands with high cheatgrass cover in northwestern Nevada (4593 feet elevation). Targeted grazing removed 80-90% of cheatgrass biomass during the boot (phenological) stage in early May 2005 and 2006. Four treatments, replicated three times each were applied to 60 x 60 m plots. The treatments included grazed and no-burn (G/NB), grazed and burn (G/B), no-graze and burn (NG/B) and a control no-graze and no-burn (NG/NB). Plots were burned in October when fire personnel were available and conditions were controllable. Fire behavior was recorded using multiple cameras around the plots, flame length and rate of spread were measured. In order to determine if targeted grazing had effects during the peak fire season (July-August), fuel parameters were input into BEHAVE Plus fire model for both the 2005 and 2006 peak fire seasons.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.