Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-Wildlife Relations: An Annotated Bibliography

15. Babcock, K. M. 1967. The influence of water depth and salinity on wiregrass 
         and saltmarsh grass. M.S. Thesis. Louisiana State University, Baton 
         Rouge. 109 pp.

Wiregrass (marshhay cordgrass) and saltmarsh grass (seashore saltgrass) from burned and unburned areas were subjected to water depths of from 5 cm below to 53 cm above the soil surface and salinities from 1.47 ppt to 34.69 ppt. The best salinities for growth were from 5 ppt to 25 ppt. Both species decreased in density when water depths exceeded 30 cm on burned samples. Decrease also occurred in unburned samples, but to a lesser extent. Marshhay cordgrass and saltmarsh grass can be reduced by winter burning followed by immediate flooding with 30 cm of water which should be maintained until late spring. The control practices increased Olney bulrush, an excellent wildlife food. [K-L-S]

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