Fire and Grazing Effects on Wind Erosion, Soil Water Content, and Soil Temperature.

This article focuses on the effects of fire and grazing on wind erosion, soil water content, and soil temperature. The physical, chemical, and biotic properties of soil may be altered by fire through numerous complex processes across spatial and temporal scales. Among the potential changes are erosion rates, soil temperature, and soil water content. Each of these factors may affect nutrient cycling and productivity of above and below-ground resources. Additionally, wind erosion can reduce air quality. Highly preferential grazing of burned sites has been confirmed for cattle and fire effects may be exacerbated by intensive herbivores. Wildfires rarely respect pasture boundaries, being of irregular shape and generally smaller than the average pasture in the western United States. Following wildfire, the burned area may be fenced, or the remainder of the pasture burned to prevent concentrated herbivores on burned patches.