Influence of selective tree cutting, livestock and prescribed fire on herbaceous biomass in the savannah woodlands of Burkina Faso, West Africa

Statistically significant treatment effects were found at each site when analysing each growth form and species individually. For instance, at the growth form level, grazing reduced the biomass of annual grasses in Tiogo, perennial grasses in Laba and forbs at both sites. Site and species-specific response to grazing was found for A. ascinodis with increased biomass in Tiogo and reduced biomass of A. gayanus in Laba. Although the effect of prescribed early fire was not statistically significant the trend was the same at both sites with increased biomass of annual grasses and decreased biomass of perennial grasses. This homogenising effect of fire was statistically significant at the species level with increased biomass of the annual grass L. togoensis and decreased biomass of the perennial grass A. gayanus at both sites. Selective cutting significantly increased mean biomass of annual grasses in Tiogo whereas there was no difference in Laba.