Tropical Grasslands (2005) Volume 39, 6574 The impact of fire on population density and canopy area of currant bush (Carissa ovata) in central Queensland and its implications for grazed woodland management P.V. BACK Sustainable Grazing Systems, Animal Science, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia Abstract
Currant bush (Carissa ovata), where present in
central Queensland beef cattle pastures, poses a
severe constraint on the availability of herbage to
domestic grazing animals and reduces the stock
carrying capacity of the pasture. The impact of
fire on population density and canopy cover of
currant bush was investigated over 7 years. Seven
burning treatments were imposed on plots
heavily infested with currant bush and compared
with an unburnt control. The treatments were:
burnt once, burnt twice (12 months apart), burnt
twice (20 months apart), burnt twice (24 months
apart), burnt twice (32 months apart), burnt
3 times (20 months then 12 months apart) and
burnt 3 times (32 months then 36 months apart).
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