Forage Quality in Burned and Unburned Aspen Communities

Selected forage species were sampled during the first and second summers after autumn prescribed burning of three sites in southeastern Idaho. They were analyzed for in vitro dry matter digestibility, protein, calcium, and phosphorus. This aspen type has a highly nutritious understory. Burning further improved the quality of the selected species only during the first postburn summer. Burning, however, changed species composition from shrubs to an abundance of palatable and nutritious forbs.