TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

RE1IABILrl'ATION TEOHNIQUES 151
areas up to 400 hectares approach maximum cost effectiveness and
manageability for daily burD8.
Preparation includes the coutruction of firebreaks, fuel-break
systems, and the placement of fire lines. For better control, fire lines
are commonly started on ridgetops. Fires should not be started in
valley bottoms but rather 10-100 m upslope. Various topographic
features such as streams, roads, and old bUlDll may be used as boundaries
to control bUlDll. Up-to-the minute spot weather forecasts are
needed to determine wind velocity, relative humidity, and temperature.
Wind speeds of 5-15 km per hour are desirable, but burning
during higher velocity winds should be avoided. Finally, public information
is important. It is better to have an informed public than
to try to justify the bum to a concerned public after the fact.
The actual burning can be conducted by several ignition designs.
The general principle is to have cool fires on the perimeter and hot
fires in the center. Most desigDII start the fire 15-30 m inside the fire
line. The sequence of ignition varies according to fuel, topography,
and weather conditions. It should be remembered, however, that one
fire tends to draw another fire to it through convection and radiation
praee.es. There is no substitute for experienced help in conducting
a prescribed bum.
Poet-bum management objectives must be part of the prescribed
bum project. Fire alone seldom attains the management objective.
Herbicide treatments might be necessary to control regrowth ofundesirable
species. Where feasible, selective gruing by deer or goats can
suppress sprouting. Seeding may be necessary to obtain the desired
cover and erosion control. Gruing control also will be necessary to
obtain adequate protection of the range until stand establishment
(Jordan, 1981).
Benefits
The benefits of a range-buming program remain for varying
lengths oftime. The following can be considered directly or indirectly
beneficial.
Increued Foro.ge Production Increase in forage production is
probably the main reason for range buming, usually to suppress
undesirable woody plants. Buming may be insurance agmut some
future decrease in carrying capacity due to woody plant encroachment,
or planned as conversion from a brush to a gr....shrub range