Invasive perennial grass weeds: a new fuel type?
John Stoner, Robyn Adams and Dianne Simmons, School of Ecology and Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia.
Key findings
• Phalaris aquatica retains much of its biomass as standing dead matter, greatly increasing the accumulated fuel load and the potential available fuel throughout the year.
• Fuel loads of Phalaris aquatica are significantly greater than those of native grasses.
• Bulk density is not significantly different between grass species, giving Phalaris aquatica a well-aerated, flammable fuel bed.
• Increased fuel load and a greater fuel height will lead to increased fire intensity, flame heights and scorch heights.
• Current fire management practices do not take these new fuel types into account.
• There are currently no fire behaviour models which can adequately predict fire behaviour in these new grass fuel types
Plant Protection Quarterly (2005) 20 (1) 21.