Influence of Wildland Fire Along a Successional Gradient in Sagebrush Steppe and Western Juniper Woodlands

Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook. var. occidentalis) has been expanding into sagebrush (ArtemisiaL. spp.) steppe over the past 130 yr in Idaho, Oregon, and California. Fuel characteristics and expected fire behavior and effects change as sagebrush steppe transitions into juniper woodlands. Little is currently known about how wildfire influences burn severity and ecosystem response in steppe altered by woodland conversion. In 2007, the Tongue-Crutcher Wildland Fire burned 18890 ha along a successional gradient ranging from sagebrush steppe to mature juniper woodlands, providing a unique opportunity to evaluate the effects of prefire vegetation on burn severity and ecosystem response across spatial scales. Plot-scale burn severity was evaluated with the composite burn index (CBI) in locations where prefire vegetation data were available, and landscape-scale burn severity was estimated via remotely sensed indices (differenced normalized burn ratio [dNBR] and relative differenced normalized burn ratio [RdNBR]). Strong positive relationships exist between CBI and remotely sensed burn severity indices in woodlands, whereas the relationships are weaker in steppe vegetation. Woodlands in late structural development phases, and sagebrush patches near developed woodlands, incurred higher burn severity than steppe and young woodlands. The results support the idea that a threshold exists for when juniper-encroached sagebrush steppe becomes difficult to restore. Implications for fire management in sagebrush/juniper ecosystems are discussed.     

Red cloud: A dark red-skinned potato cultivar which holds color in storage

Red Cloud is a midseason potato comparable in maturity to Red LaSoda and later than Red Norland. It is characterized by a thick, dark red skin and white flesh. The red skin coloring holds well in storage, longer than either Red LaSoda or Dark Red Norland. Red Cloud produced above average yields in trials conducted in Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, and Texas, and in the 14 participating States and Provinces of the North Central Regional Potato (NCR) Trial in 1982. Yields of Red Cloud were higher than Dark Red Norland and lower than Red LaSoda in NE (1989–1991), similar to Red Norland in NE and CO (1977–1982) and to Red LaSoda and Dark Red LaSoda in AZ (1978–1982), and similar to Dark Red Norland and lower than Red LaSoda in TX (1982). Red Cloud tends to have more grade outs due to bulging eyes than the above standards. The specific gravity has been consistently greater than standard and other experimental red cultivars. Red Cloud had fewer tubers with hollow heart or vascular discoloration, and fewer tubers with any internal or external defects than Red Norland and Red Pontiac. It has demonstrated heat tolerance in Arizona. The white flesh has a mealy texture. The primary market for Red Cloud is a fresh table potato for boiling, mashing and baking.