Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Controlled Burn Planned for Poppy Field : Lancaster: Tuesday’s experiment aims to destroy plants that impede the flower’s growth.

Part of the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, which has delighted wildflower lovers this spring with a colorful, long-lasting display of blossoms, is expected to go up in flames on Tuesday.

That’s when state parks officials are scheduled to conduct a controlled burn aimed at producing even more blooms in future years. The experiment, restricted to about 24 acres, is designed to destroy some plants that interfere with the growth of poppies.

“The burn will hopefully enhance next year’s wildflower display by reducing the non-native plants and allowing native plants . . . to expand their range into the burned areas,” said John Crossman, resource ecologist for the Mojave Desert State Parks, which include the 1,750-acre reserve dedicated to the state flower.

State and county firefighters will help set the fires Tuesday morning if wind and humidity levels are appropriate, state officials said. Smoke from the burn is not expected to disrupt traffic on nearby roads or in Lancaster, located west of the park.

Park administrators began experimenting with controlled burns last year after several disappointing poppy showings, partly blamed on the spread of fast-growing grasses that compete with the flowers for moisture and sunshine.

Last year, 15 acres at the reserve were burned, but the results of the experiment were inconclusive, Crossman said. Unusual weather patterns this spring, including plentiful rain and cool temperatures, led to an impressive wildflower season but made it difficult to gauge the impact of the burn, he said.

This year, state officials plan to burn 6.5 acres near the park’s entrance--an area that also was charred last year--along with an 18-acre plot north of the visitor’s center.

The state’s experiments have been supported by wildflower experts, who suspect that brush fires and animal grazing may increase the number of blossoms not only by removing competing plants, but also scattering seeds.

The project also has been endorsed by the city of Lancaster, which promotes its annual California Poppy Festival statewide. The festival and a large display of wildflowers attract tourists, who bolster the local economy, city officials say.

State park supervisors said they will study the impact of the controlled burns. But they also warned that unpredictable factors such as rainfall and temperatures will probably continue to have more impact on the annual showing of wildflowers.