Effects of Prescribed Fire Timing on Stocker Cattle Performance, Native Plant Composition, Forage Biomass, and Root Carbohydrate Reserves in the Kansas Flint Hills: Year One of Six

Objective: Our objective was to document the effects of prescribed fire timing on yearling beef cattle performance, native plant composition, and forage biomass ac­cumulation in the Kansas Flint Hills. Study Description: Our study took place at the Kansas State Beef Stocker Unit located northwest of Manhattan, KS. Pastures were assigned to one of three prescribed burn treatments: early spring (April), mid-summer (August), or early fall (October). Treatments were applied and yearling heifers (n = 360) were subsequently grazed from May to August. Native plant composition and forage biomass were evaluated annually in late June and early July. The Bottom Line: The first year of data from a six-year study indicated that prescribed fire timing affected stocker cattle performance and forage biomass availability but not basal cover of forage grasses and forbs

Effects of Late Summer Prescribed Fire on Botanical Composition, Soil Cover, and Forage Production in Caucasian Bluestem-Infested Rangeland in the Kansas Smoky Hills: Year 2 of 4

Objective: The objective was to document the effects late-summer prescribed fire on soil cover, botanical composition, and forage production in the Kansas Smoky Hills and the associated effects on dense Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii) stands therein. Study Description: The study took place on a private ranch in Ellsworth County, in the Kansas Smoky Hills. Eighteen one-acre plots were assigned randomly to one of three prescribed-fire treatments: no burn, single burn (i.e., one burn treatment only in 2019), or biennial burn (i.e., two burn treatments in 2019 and 2021). Soil cover, plant composition, and forage production were evaluated annually. These data represent plant community effects one year following prescribed fire. The Bottom Line: The data were interpreted to indicate that one year of late-summer prescribed fire was associated with decreased presence of Caucasian bluestem and increased native plant richness, a component of biological diversity, but was not associated with clear trends for change in forage production. A second fire treatment is planned for 2021

Effects of Late Summer Prescribed Fire on Botanical Composition, Soil Cover, and Forage Production in Caucasian Bluestem-Infested Rangeland in the Kansas Smoky Hills: Year 3 of 4

Objective: The objective was to document the effects of late-summer prescribed fire on soil cover, botanical composition, and forage production in the Kansas Smoky Hills and associated effects on dense Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii) stands therein. Study Description: The study took place on a private ranch in Ellsworth County, in the Kansas Smoky Hills. Eighteen one-acre plots were assigned randomly to one of two prescribed-fire treatments: no burn (control) and burn (burned August 14, 2019). Soil cover, plant composition, and forage production were evaluated annually. These data represent plant community effects prior to treatment and one and two years subsequent to treatment. The Bottom Line: These data were interpreted to indicate that one application of late-summer prescribed fire was associated with decreased presence of Caucasian bluestem and intermittent increases in native grass and forb richness, a component of biological diversity. Some declines in forage production were noted

Effects of Prescribed-Fire Timing on Stocker Cattle Performance, Forage Biomass Accumulation, and Native Plant Species Composition

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to document the effects of prescribed-fire timing on stocker cattle performance, forage biomass accumulation, soil cover, and plant species composition in the Kansas Flint Hills. Study Description: A total of 1,416 yearling stocker cattle were assigned to one of three prescribed-burn treatments: spring (April 9 ± 5.1 days), summer (August 23 ± 4.9 days), or fall (September 29 ± 8.7 days) over a 4-year period. Calves were grazed from May to August for 90 days. Individual body weights were recorded at the beginning and end of the grazing season. Native plant composition and soil cover were evaluated annually using a modified step-point method, and forage biomass was measured biannually. The Bottom Line: Flint Hills ranchers can employ late-summer prescribed fires to manage sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) infestations without negatively impacting stocker cattle growth performance, forage biomass accumulation, or native rangeland plant species composition

Yearling Cattle Grazing Pastures Burned During Summer Perform Similarly to Cattle Grazing Pastures Burned in Early Spring: Year 2 of 6

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the impact of prescribed fire timing on grazing performance of yearling beef cattle in the Kansas Flint Hills. Study Description: This study was conducted at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit. Yearling stocker cattle were assigned randomly to one of three prescribed-burn treatments: spring (April 7 ± 2.1 days), summer (August 21 ± 5.7 days), or fall (October 2 ± 9.9 days) and grazed from May to August of 2019 and 2020. Individual body weights were recorded at the beginning and end of the grazing season to determine total body weight gain and average daily gain. The Bottom Line: The first two years of data from a 6-year study were interpreted to indicate that yearling cattle grazing pastures burned in summer performed similarly to those grazing pastures burned in spring

Effects of Prescribed Fire Timing on Native Plant Composition, Forage Biomass Accumulation, and Root Carbohydrate Reserves in the Kansas Flint Hills: Year 2 of 6

Objective: The objective was to document the effects of prescribed fire timing on native plant composition, forage biomass, and root carbohydrate concentrations in key native tallgrass species in the Kansas Flint Hills. Study Description: This experiment was conducted at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit. Eighteen pastures were grouped by watershed and assigned to one of three prescribed-burn treatments: spring (April 7 ± 2.1 days), summer (August 21 ± 5.7 days), or fall (October 2 ± 9.9 days). Botanical composition, forage biomass, and root carbohydrate concentrations in big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, and purple prairie clover were evaluated annually. The Bottom Line: Data from the first two years of a six-year study were interpreted to indicate that basal cover of forage grasses and forbs, forage biomass accumulation, and root carbohydrate concentrations in key tallgrass species did not differ between prescribed-fire treatments

Effects of Late-Summer Prescribed Fire on Botanical Composition, Soil Cover, and Forage Production in Caucasian Bluestem-Infested Rangeland in the Kansas Smoky Hills: Year 4 of 5

Objective: Our objective was to determine effects of late-summer prescribed fire on frequency of Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii) in the Kansas Smoky Hills as well as changes in soil cover, botanical composition, and forage production associated with fire treatment. Study Description: The study was in Ellsworth County, KS. Eighteen one-acre plots were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: no burn, one burn (August 14, 2019), and two burns (August 14, 2019, and August 11, 2021). Soil cover, botanical composition, forage production, and Caucasian bluestem frequency were measured annually beginning in 2019. The Bottom Line: These data suggest that regular application of late-summer prescribed fire may be an effective method to reduce Caucasian bluestem frequency while improving overall grass-species richness

Long-Term Effects of April, August, or October Prescribed Fire on Yearling Stocker Cattle Performance and Native Rangeland Plant Composition in the Kansas Flint Hills

Objective:The objective of our experiment was to determine if prescribed fire applied in April, August, or October influenced stocker growth performance or plant community characteristics in the Kansas Flint Hills over a 6-year period. Study Description:A total of 1,939 yearling stocker cattle were assigned to one of three prescribed-burn treatments: spring (April 11 ± 5.7 days), summer (August 25 ± 6.2 days or fall (October 2 ± 9.0 days) over a 5-year period. Calves were grazed from May to August for 90 days. Individual body weights were recorded at the start and end of the grazing season. Native plant composition and soil cover were evaluated annually in June using a modified step-point method. The Bottom Line:Shifting prescribed fire from April to August or October reduced yearling stocker cattle weight gains by 10 to 14 lb during a 90-day grazing season. Ranchers are encouraged to consider the cost associated with herbicides versus the costs associated with reduced growth performance when developing a strategy for sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) control

Effects of Prescribed Fire Timing on Stocker Cattle Performance and Native Plant Composition: Year 3 of 6

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to document the effects of prescribed-fire timing on stocker cattle performance, soil cover, and plant species composition over a six-year period. Study Description: Yearling stocker cattle were assigned to one of three prescribed-burn treatments: spring (April 9 ± 5.1 days), summer (August 23 ± 4.9 days), or fall (September 29 ± 8.7 days). Calves were grazed from May to August for 90 days. Individual body weights (BW) were recorded at the beginning and end of the grazing season to determine total BW gains and average daily gains. Native plant composition and soil cover were evaluated annually using a modified step-point method. The Bottom Line: We interpreted these data to suggest that summer-season prescribed fire could be used to manage sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) infestations without reducing grazing performance of yearling cattle or damaging the vigor of native warm-season plant populations