Effects of burning on soil-water content and water use in a Paspalum quadrifarium grassland

Fire increases forage availability and forage quality in grasslands dominated by Paspalum quadrifarium in the Flooding Pampa, Argentina. We evaluated the effect of burning on soil water content and the above ground productivity. The study area was located near the San Ignacio railroad station at the Ayacucho county, Province of Buenos Aires. The experiment was a completely randomized block design with two blocks and two treatments: burned (B) and unburned (NB). Volumetric soil moisture content and water table level was measured during two growing seasons. Water use was estimated for the spring-fall period using volumetric water content, water table depth and daily precipitation. Volumetric water content was consistently lower and water use was higher for the burned treatments. Lower volumetric water content and higher water use for the burned treatments were associated fire enhanced growth of the dominant species.