Fuels

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  An interim investigation into post-fire fuel load recovery in tussock grasslands

  Veronica Clifford & Grant Pearce
  

  This study aimed to improve understanding of fire hazard in tussock grasslands by investigating fuel load recovery with time-since-fire.

  03/2009. 79pp.
  Scion reference Report No. 16503. [8.1 MB].

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  This study aimed to improve understanding of fire hazard in tussock grasslands by investigating fuel load recovery with time-since-fire. Knowledge on the rates of biomass recovery following fire is needed to improve estimates of fire behaviour for fire management of tussock grasslands. Very few studies have investigated the recovery of fuel loads (biomass) following fire in tussock grasslands. A method was developed and tested for determining biomass accumulation following fire in tussock grasslands at the Waiouru Army Training Ground, in the central North Island. Results were also compared with current fuel load models. Significant findings were that fuel loads at Waiouru recovered to 19% of the unburned biomass within 6-12 months and to 50% by 4-7 years after fire. Total biomass for tussock grasslands was best predicted by the "tussock all" model.