Stop 16
Fire is important to the management of a prairie – it keeps trees and shrubs from taking over and creates an environment that favors the growth of grasses. You are now walking along one of the many “fireguards” that crisscross Konza Prairie. Fireguards are roads or mowed grass that separate areas that have different burning treatments.
If you look out into the hills of Konza you may be able to see some areas that have distinctly more shrubs or trees than others. What you are seeing is the difference in burning frequencies on those hills. The areas that are mostly grass are burned either yearly or every other year. The areas that are filled with shrubs are less frequently burned. Fire is very important in the maintenance of the prairie. Our research shows that prairies need to be burned at least every 3 years to best prevent the establishment of invasive plants like shrubs and cedar trees.
