Responses of Species in Kalsow Prairie, Iowa, to an April Fire

Selected prairie species were observed during the first growing season following a prescribed burn on Kalsow Prairie, a mesic tall grass prairie in central Iowa. Changes in dry weight, vegetative cover, and flowering response were measured on burned, unburned and mowed areas. Significant changes were recorded for many species following the burn ranging from a flowering response of prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) on burned areas 30 times that on unburned areas to a slight reduction in flowering of bluegrass (Poa pratensis) on burned areas