Abstract

This study investigated the effects of controlled burns on biomass dynamics and fire behavior in areas of stricto sensu grassland in southern Brazil. The experiment consisted of conducting controlled burns in three experimental plots divided into five subplots, with data collection on fire behavior (rate of spread, fireline intensity, residence time, and heat released) followed by monitoring of vegetation recovery over 19 months. To assess the influence of fire on biomass increase, the Gompertz model was fitted, correlating the Absolute Growth Rate (AGR), the time to peak productivity and the time at which the growth curve reaches 95% of the asymptote with the fire behavior variables. The results demonstrated that low-intensity controlled burns were effective in reducing fuel load. Correlation analysis indicated that fire behavior variables had little influence on the rate of vegetation recovery, suggesting that the ecosystem tolerates low-severity disturbances well. The Gompertz model showed a satisfactory fit (R2 = 0.86 for total biomass), proving to be a useful tool for management. It is concluded that the use of low-intensity prescribed burns is a viable and safe practice for protected areas.

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