Resilience of Foothills Rough Fescue, Festuca campestris, rangeland to wildfire

The effects of a December 1997 wildfire on Foothills Rough Fescue grassland species composition, forage quality, herbage production, and ground cover were monitored in southwestern Alberta, Canada, during 1998-2000. A reduction in grass cover was observed after burning, and fescue increased seedhead production during the second year after the fire. Fob production was unaffected while graminoid production declined by about 40% with burning. Live plant cover and herbage production had recovered on the burned area by the second growing season. Forage quality was greater on the burned area, with the greatest increase in crude protein in 1998. The grasslands demonstrated great resilience to the severe wildfire.