Grassland fires clear litter so sunlight reaches new grass shoots
In many prairies and savanna grasslands, frequent low fires consume thatch and dead stems that would otherwise shade the soil surface and lock nutrients in litter.
Ash returns minerals quickly; light and warmth then wake buds at or below ground level. Species adapted to this rhythm often decline when fire is excluded for decades.
Grassland fire is a gardener with a flame. Clearing litter is less about killing plants than about resetting the light and nutrient stage for the next green flush.
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