Utilizing Patch Burning to Enhance Vegetation Management in the Southern Great Plains
Keywords:
patch-burn, grazing, prescribed burning, pricklypear, brush encroachmentAbstract
Prescribed burning and livestock grazing can increase plant diversity by reducing the competitive ability of some invasive plants. The research objectives of this study were: to quantify vegetation response to patch burning, to determine cattle grazing distribution patterns following patch burning, and to quantify performance of grazing heifers following patch burning. Ten percent of 3 pastures was patch-burned. The remaining 3 pastures were not patch burned. All pastures were exposed to cattle grazing at a moderate stocking rate. Vegetation and livestock response were monitored. In addition, we monitored cattle grazing patterns. Pricklypear cover decreased, and pricklypear density tended to decrease. Patch burning increased mesquite mortality. Bitterweed densities were similar between burned and non-burned patches, while annual broomweed densities were reduced by fire. Forage production on the burned patches was similar to non-burned controls, but decreased following burning and grazing by heifers. Heifer weights were greater, but only during certain times post-fire. Heifers grazing in pastures spent more time grazing in burned patches especially early in the grazing season. Patch burning can be used to improve livestock distribution while reducing the cover and density of some invasive plants.
References
Ansley, R.J., W.R. Teague, W.E. Pinchak, B.A. Kramp, and DL. Jones. 2004. Long-term grass yields following chemical control of honey mesquite. Journal of Range Management 57:49-57.
Ansley, R.J., B.A. Kramp, and D.L. Jones. 2015. Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) seedling responses to seasonal timing of fire and fireline intensity. Rangeland Ecology and Management 68:194-203.
Augustine, D. J., and J. D. Derner. 2014. Controls over the strength and timing of fire-grazer interactions in a semi-arid rangeland. Journal of Applied Ecology 51:242-250.
Allred, B. W., S. D. Fuhlendorf, F. E. Smeins, and C. A. Taylor. 2012. Herbivore species and grazing intensity regulated community composition and an encroaching woody plant in semi-arid rangeland. Basic and Applied Ecology 13:149-158.
Bailey, D. W., J. E. Gross, E. A. Laca, L. R. Rittenhouse, M. B. Coughenour, D. M. Swift, and R. L. Sims. 1996. Mechanisms that result in large herbivore grazing distribution patterns. Journal of Range Management 49:386-400.
Cummings, D. C., S. D. Fuhlendorf, and D. M. Engle. 2007. Is altering grazing selectivity of invasive forage species with patch burning more effective than herbicide treatment? Rangeland Ecology and Management 60:253-260.
Fuhlendorf, S. D., and D. M. Engle. 2004. Application of the fire-grazing interaction to restore a shifting mosaic on tallgrass prairie. Journal of Applied Ecology 41:604-614.
Frost, C.C., 1998. Presettlement fire frequency regimes of the United States: a first approximation. In: Prudin, T.L., Brennan, L.A. (Eds.), Proceedings: Fire in Ecosystem Management, 7–10 May 1996; Boise, ID, USA. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings No. 20. Tallahassee, FL, USA, pp. 70–81.
Frost, R. A. and K. L. Launchbaugh. 2003. Prescription grazing for rangeland weed management. Rangelands 25:43-47.
Heirman, A. L, and H. A. Wright. 1973. Fire in medium fuels of west Texas. Journal of Range Management 26:331-335.
Littell, R. C, G. A. Milliken, W. W. Stroup, and R. D. Wolfinger. 1996. SAS system for mixed models. Cary, NC, USA: SAS Institute. 633 p Neuenschwander, L. F., H. A. Wright, and S. C. Bunting. 1978. The effect of fire on a tobosagrass-mesquite community in the Rolling Plains of Texas. The Southwestern Naturalist 23:315-337.
Neuenschwander, L. F., H. A. Wright, and S. C. Bunting. 1978. The effect of fire on a tobosagrass-mesquite community in the rolling plains of Texas. The Southwestern Naturalist 23:315-338.
Provenza, F. D. 1995. Postingestive feedback as an elementary determination of food preference and intake in ruminants. Journal Range Management 48:2-17.
Redmann, R. E., J. T. Romo, and B. Pylypec. 1993. Impacts of burning on primary productivity of Festuca and Stipa-Agropyron grasslands in central Saskatchewan. American Midland Naturalist 130:262 273.
Scheintaub, M. R., J. D. Derner, E. F. Kelly, and A. K. Knapp. 2009. Response of the shortgrass steppe plant community to fire. Journal of Arid Environments 73:1136-1143.
Scholes, R.J. and S.R. Archer. 1997. Tree-grass interactions in savannas. Annual Review Ecological Systems 28:517-544.
Shay, J., D. Kunec, and B. Dyck. 2001. Short-term effects of fire frequency on vegetation composition and biomass in mixed prairie in south-western Manitoba. Plant Ecology 155:157-167.
Teague, W.R., R.J. Ansley, U.P. Kreuter, W.E. Pinchak, and J.M. McGrann. 2001. Economics of managing mesquite in north Texas: a sensitivity analysis. Journal Range Management 54:553-560.
Towne, G., and C. Owensby. 1983. Annual broomweed [Gutierrezia drancunculoides (DC.) Blake] response to burning and mulch addition. Journal of Range Management 36:711-712.
Van Langevelde, F., C. A.D.M. Van De Vijiver, L Kumar, J. Van De Koppel, N. De Ridder, J. VanAndel, A.K. Skidmore, J.W. Hearne, L Stroosnyder, W.J. Bond, H.H.T. Prins, and M. Rietkerk. 2003. Effects of fire and herbivory on the stability of savanna ecosystems. Ecology 84:337-350.
Vermeire, L.T. and A.D. Roth. 2011. Plains prickly pear response to fire: Effects of fuel load, heat, fire weather, and donor site soil. Rangeland Ecology and Management 64:404-413.
Weir, J. R., S. D. Fuhlendorf, D. M. Engle, T. G. Bidwell, D. C. Cummings, D. Elmore, R. F. Limb, J. D. Scasta, and S. L. Winter. 2013. Patch burning: integrating fire and grazing to promote heterogeneity. Publication E-998, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. 26 pp.
Whisenant, S. G., and D. W. Uresk. 1989. Burning upland mixed prairie in Badlands National Park. Prairie Naturalist 21:221-227.
