Burning fields

[KevT]

I am sure this has been posted, but not sure how to find it. The hay in this area is mostly Pensacola Bahia, and every spring the farmers set the fields on fire leaving a black field 2 weeks later it is the most lushest green field you have ever seen. What does burning do for it?

 

[vtsnowedin]

Just guessing but probably burning the old dried up grass reduces it to ash that releases the nutrients in it to the soil quicker then waiting for it to rot. might also kill a lot of competing weed seeds.

 

[Creamer]

Just guessing but probably burning the old dried up grass reduces it to ash that releases the nutrients in it to the soil quicker then waiting for it to rot. might also kill a lot of competing weed seeds.

That is the plan. The other side of it is that while those nutrients are released for a quicker growth some are consumed so there is a lower overall nutrient level.

 

[Hill Farmer]

The black field also warms up, and thus greens up, a little faster than one that's not burned.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Releases nutrients into the soil. Controls brush and weeds. Gets rid of old dry clumps of grass and evens out the growth. Kills ticks and other pests. And, fire is always fun

 

[joeu235]

burning kills off a microbe in the soil that volatilizes urea fertilizer. gives the applicator a few more days for a rain event to occur before the urea floats up into the air

if its a hay field, sometimes spring is too wet to get winter grass cured. around here, spring hay can take a week to dry vs two days in the summer. if there is never a week of dry weather, the dead winter grass needs to go somewhere so it doesn't end up in the summer "good" hay.

 

[Walt 2002]

"And, fire is always fun"

Hmm, glad you live a couple states away, we have enough "fun" fires here, east side of IL.

Walt Conner

 

[KiotiKowboy]

LOL - Maybe I should have said "controlled" fire

 

[Mace Canute]

I always have liked a good burning.

My buddy on his acreage is a bit of a chicken when it comes to having a good burning anywhere on his place...something about buildings and equipment going up in smoke...what a killjoy!

Now that you mention it, this is the time of year all the old farts around here decide to burn off last years dead grass in sloughs and ditches. There's always one or two that wait until there's a good stiff breeze first just to make things more exciting for the neighbours.

 

[newbury]

It also gets rid of the pallets!

 

[vtsnowedin]

It also gets rid of the pallets!

but not the nails!!!!

 

[davesl708]

It also gets rid of the pallets!

Yes but AaronS on the "Pictures Only" thread is unloading pallets by the trailer load.

 

[yanmars]

All of the above make sense. I burn my CRP grass on occasion to get rid of rose bushes and volunteer trees and often find deer sheds later. Have to be careful of the conditions, I burn 20 acres at a time and like to keep it on my side of the fence.

 

[Creamer]

There's always one or two that wait until there's a good stiff breeze first just to make things more exciting for the neighbours.

I wish it were only one or two - it seems around here on a spring Sunday afternoon you hear the sirens about every two hours. I guess I grew up in an area where lighting a fire in field was a no-no almost any time of year. I can't think of a more dangerous, wasteful, and environmentally negative method of clearing a field.

 

[DT86]

I guess I grew up in an area where lighting a fire in field was a no-no almost any time of year. I can't think of a more dangerous, wasteful, and environmentally negative method of clearing a field.

Really?

 

[Creamer]

Of course - the plant matter is great for the soil providing humus and tilth plus keeping the natural soil organisms active. Burning like this is never very clean, i.e. not a hot fire putting a lot of particulate and other chemicals in the air.
The danger level really depends on the area - in dryer areas fires can be very hard to control that is why this was a real no-no where I grew up. Also the bare, dry land was very susceptible to wind erosion.

Of course we could take the BLM view and not allow grazing in the large forests which allows a lot of undergrowth which makes it very difficult to stop fires in the millions of acres out west; which gets each fire to burn a lot more acreage and take a lot more dollars to control/extinguish and leaves a lot more land bare for a lot more erosion....all in the name of improved land management. I think it is much better to burn all those trees and create a lot of smoke and mess and cost more money just so we can make sure cows and sheep do not eat naturally but corralled up in pens. Somehow I am sure this makes sense to someone.

 

[AGRIMAN]

Nothing like burning at sunset

 

[Skyfish25]

Burning, the only natural way to control over growth. Not tillage, not spraying. Use as another management tool. Yes, it takes some planning. Need wind and weather to cooperate. Look at all the native plants that need or thrive from fire. Burn broam grass as late as possible and later that summer shoots of blue stem, switch grass, side oats grammar and maybe a few others. Several evergreens seeds have almost zero chance of germinating without fire. Yeas, you loose some organic matter. But it may help. And yes some nutrition is lost, but some is made more readily available.

So, think of it as another tool. Don't use all the time. But it sure works well at times.

It seems like what us thought now is all one way or another way. Go no til, all tillage bad and spray. Go organic and no spray and lots of tillage. Don't understand, take care of you land and it will take care of you.