Some Effects of Fire on the Survival of Sifton Bush (Cassinia Arcuata R.br.).

Abstract

A number of buming procedures were investigated over three seasons for their potential to kill individual sifton bushes (Cassinia arcuata). The methods compared were an unburnt control, a foliage-only bum and a factorial arrangement of two basal buming energies (20 and 56 kW) for three durations (3, 6 and 9 seconds). Burning shrub bases generally killed more shrubs than burning the foliage. This was attributed to thin bark and lack of below-ground shoot meristems. Within the range of intensities used (195 kW/m and 545 kW/m), duration of the basal bum had more influence than intensity in killing shrubs. Small shrubs (<800 mrn) were generally more easily killed by buming. Shrubs were more susceptible to all burning treatments in spring 1990. Subsequent dry conditions were suggested as a probable reason for this. The results and observations following fires in stands of sifton bush indicate that it is a seed regenerator following fire. Unless some means of controlling seedlings is available, caution should be exercised when using fire to control this species.