Browsing by Subject "Prescribed burning"
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Item Ecological role and potential use of fire in redberry juniper-mixed grass habitats(Texas Tech University, 1982-05) Steuter, Allen ANot availableItem Effects of Fire on an Ashe Juniper Community(Texas Tech University, 1972-05) Wink, Robert LynnNot Available.Item Effects of fire, ash, and litter on Tobosa production(Texas Tech University, 1975-05) Sharrow, Steven HaroldThe effects of fire (litter removal, ash deposition, and direct heating) on soil factors (moisture, temperature, exchangeable ammonia, and nitrate) and tobosa production were studied in 1974 near Post, Texas in an effort to understand increases in tobosa yields following burning. In addition, tobosa community nitrogen levels were examined on five different ages of burns ranging from current to five years old for both convex and concave topographic sites near Colorado City, Texas in July of 1973 and 1974. Of fire's effects, only litter removal affected the soil factors measured. Plots without litter were warmer slightly drier, and had higher soil nitrate levels than plots with litter. In years of normal or above normal precipitation, the higher soil temperatures stimulate tobosa growth and soil nitrate production on plots without litter compared to the cooler plots with litter. During dry years, however, the warmer temperatures on plots without litter increased moisture stress on plants which negated the beneficial effects of warmer soil temperatures and decreased tobosa yields on burned plots. Fire consumes most of the litter and old growth originally present. Relatively large new growth yields the first two growing seasons following fire restores old growth-N to prefire levels by the end of the third growing season. Litter-N levels, however, are not restored until the end of the fifth growing season when stems produced during the first few seasons die and fall as litter. High inherent variation prevented the recognition of any meaningful trends in root or soil nitrogen levels. Concave sites tended to recover from fire more quickly than did convex sites. It appears that concave sites may be burned at five year intervals without depleting community nitrogen reserves and endangering future tobosa yields. Convex sites should not be burned more frequently than once every 7 or 8 years.Item Effects of prescribed fire on small mammals and beetle assemblages in conservation reserve program (CRP) grasslands(Texas Tech University, 1998-05) Davis, Stephen SethThe Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was established as a portion of the 1985 Food Security Act. The CRP removed highly erodible farmland from production by seeding perennial grasses. Acreage enrolled in CRP could not be grazed or harvested for 10 years. Since 1985, 400,000 ha in the Southern High Plains have been enrolled in CRP providing the unique opportunity for scientists to study a variety of animals in relatively homogenous man-made habitats. The stands of CRP in the Southern High Plains are dominated by weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula). Information on community structure and microhabitat use of small mammals in homogenous CRP grasslands is severely lacking. Therefore, the hypothesis that rodents within CRP grasslands differed in microhabitat use was examined. Small mammals were live-trapped on 12 study plots from 11 to 15 March 1996 in Lynn County, Texas. First captures of small mammals were separated into four vegetation categories based on canopy cover at the trap site. Eight species of small mammals were captured during 6000 trapnights. The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and the hispid pocket mouse rChaetodipus hispidus) differed from the expected distribution of captures (chi square, 3 df, P < 0.001 and P = 0.001) with more captures in open trap sites. In contrast, the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) and the western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis^ differed from the expected distribution of captures (chi square, 3 df, P < 0.001 and P = 0.058) with more captures in densely vegetated trap sites. Results suggest rodents living in weeping lovegrass monocultures select different microhabitat cover. The effects of prescribed fire on small mammals and beetle assemblages in CRP grasslands have yet to be documented. Small mammals and beetles were sampled on six burned and six non-burned areas over the summers of 1996 and 1997. Small mammal trapping revealed 2532 captures of 1380 individuals of 10 species. R. megalotis and S. hispidus decreased dramatically following fire (P = 0.001 and P = 0.003). The northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster) increased following fire ( P = 0.044). Three other species, the spotted ground squirrel (Spermophilus spilosoma). P. maniculatus. and C. hispidus. all exhibited burn by time interactions and increased in at least one time period on burned areas. Rodent postfire succession in CRP grassland is a dynamic process. Habitats are continually being optimized by changing groups of rodents even when grasses return to preburn densities. Beetle trapping revealed 13 different beetle families, with six families captured in sufficient numbers for statistical analysis. Scarabaeidae, Tenebrionidae, and Meloidae beetles were not affected by fire. Carabidae and Cicindelidae, although not significant at the P < 0.05 level, had trends which suggested possible fire effects. Elateridae beetles decreased 16 months postburn but did not differ in previous samples. Beetles seem to be resilient to fire and families that are affected most are those depended on litter and detritus for habitat.Item Effects of summer burning on Texas High Plains vegetation(Texas Tech University, 1997-05) Stanley, Charles R.The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of summer and winter prescribed fires on honey mesquite and broom snakeweed {Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh.)), as well as herbaceous vegetation. Sprouting response and mortality of mesquite were measured. Also, density of broom snakeweed was determined after 1 and 2 growing seasons. In addition, litter reduction, grass and forb yields were measured for 1 and 2 growing seasons following treatments. This study also recorded rate of fire spread on selected plots within each burn treatment to aid in determining safe burning parameters during summer fires.Item Fire effects on Matagorda Island vegetation(Texas Tech University, 1995) Brown, Steven Delmas; Wester, David B.; Allen, Bonnie L.Not availableItem Fire effects on weeping lovegrass developmental morphology and forage quality(Texas Tech University, 1999-05) McFarland, James BrentWeeping lovegrass [Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees.] is an introduced perennial, warm-season, bunchgrass that is productive on a wide variety of soils, particularly sandy and sandy loam soils. Consequently, weeping lovegrass was widely used during the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on the Southem High Plains of Texas. Due to mismanagement, many producers have rejected weeping lovegrass as part of their grazing program. Management practices may be better implemented with an understanding of the morphological development of weeping lovegrass. Prescribed burning is a practical and efficient management tool to increase forage production and forage quality in weeping lovegrass. Understanding the impacts of fire on weeping lovegrass developmental morphology and forage quality may allow for better utilization in grazing systems. The objectives of this study were to: (1) quantify the developmental morphology of weeping lovegrass, (2) determine the effect of fire on weeping lovegrass developmental morphology, (3) determine the effect of fire on weeping lovegrass tiller demographics, and (4) determine the effect of fire on weeping lovegrass forage quality.Item Impacts of prescribed burning on migratory and breeding birds on a costal barrier island(Texas Tech University, 1995-05) Van't Hul, Jerrad T.Prescribed burning has been used to modify and diversify habitat in both grassland and forest ecosystems. However, use of prescribed burning as a tool en coastal barrier islands characterized by a Spartina/Paspalum grassland has received httle attention. Coastal barrier islands along the Gulf of Mexico provide important step-ever habitat for many migratory bkd species. The alteration or disturbance of this habitat may aflfect how these species meet the cost of migration. I assessed the inq)act of prescribed binning en the local abundance and breeding habitat of resident and migratory bkd species at Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refiige and State Natural Area, Texas, 1993 and 1994. I located 12, 122 ha plots en the mid-island portion of Matagorda Island in the barrier flats and estabUshed 12-16 fixed-radius point count stations on each plot. Two plots were bumed in late August 1992 and 1993 (summer bums), two in early January 1993 and 1994 (winter bmns), and four plots served as controls. I used point count stations to measure vegetation variables and to conduct bkd surveys. I located and monitored nests to evaluate nest success en control and treatment areas. I also examined micrehabitat selection of breeding bkds at nest sites.Item Integrating prescribed burning and insecticide to reduce Fire ant impacts on Bobwhite chicks(Texas Tech University, 2003-12) Norton, Amy AllieneThe red imported fire ant (RIFA) has caused extensive damage to wildlife populations in Texas since its infestation. Northern bobwhite quail in particular have felt the negative impacts of RIFA. RIFA can cause severe injury to bobwhite chicks, rendering them unable to forage for food or escape predators. Observational and experimental evidence has shown that hatching bobwhite chicks experience a low survival rate when exposed to a significant number of foraging RIFA. Control and management of RIFA in Texas is important in protecting bobwhite habitat and potentially increasing bobwhite chick survival and nest success. We initiated a study in Victoria and Goliad counties to examine integrated control methods for RIFA in bobwhite quail habitat. Our research objective was to determine if a reduced rate of insecticide and/or prescribed burning could decrease the foraging activity of RIFA below the threshold that causes mortality of northern bobwhite chicks. Eight research sites were established in early 2002. Each site was divided into a burned and unburned plot. Individual burned and unburned plots randomly received one of four rates of insecticide treatment: 0, 50, 75 or 100% of the recommended label rate of Amdro®. Bait cup sampling of RIFA was conducted immediately prior to, four weeks, eight weeks, and twelve weeks after insecticide treatment. Treatments and sampling were repeated on six plots in 2003 on previously untreated sites in Calhoun County, Texas. Differences in RIFA foraging activity were analyzed among treatments. Differences were assessed using a two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance. RIFA foraging activity was responsive to Amdro® insecticide treatments. As the rate of Amdro® applied increased, foraging activity of RIFA declined. Data from 2002 and 2003 revealed a difference in mean number of foraging RIFA in insecticide treated plots versus control plots (P<0.05) when testing for the main effect of insecticide treatment. In both years, the mean number of foraging RIFA collected in bait cups in burned plots was not different from nonburned plots (P>0.05).Item Prescription development for burning two volatile fuel types(Texas Tech University, 2003-05) Racher, Brent J.Prescribed burning is used to manipulate vegetation worldwide. However, the practice carries an inherent danger because fires can escape and/or harm people. These studies were initiated to evaluate fire behavior and firebrand spotting potential for two volatile fuel types in which prescribed burning is being used. The first fuel type was saltcedar. Saltcedar stands carried crown fires and exhibited erratic fire behavior if they had not been burned before. Saltcedar that had been burned recently carried a fire through the fine, surface fuels. Differences in fire behavior occurred when saltcedar were burned at different phenologic stages. Spotting potential of firebrands from saltcedar fires was found up to 152 m and 163 m downwind for areas that had and had not been burned recently, respectively. The second fuel type was juniper/oak communities in Texas. Historically, prescriptions for burning during the late winter/early spring have been used. Recently, burning at higher temperatures mostly during the summer is becoming popular in this region. Behavior of some these fires exhibited alarmingly high rates of spread. Surprisingly, firebrands for many fires in this fuel type often were absent. However, firebrands were collected 152 m downwind from headfires. The volatility and conditions under which both of these communities have been and are being burned require that fire managers monitor more information than we have in the past. Variables such as 10-hr timelag fuel moisture, live fuel moisture, and the ability of personnel to perform under strenuous conditions need to be considered. Additionally, for these fuel types, installation of blacklines downwind of the fire at least 152 m and up to 213 m wide is critical to minimize the spotting potential from prescribed fires.Item Response of six tropical grasses to prescribed burning in the west coast of Mexico(Texas Tech University, 1987-05) Negrete-Ramos, Luis FernandoA three-year study (1982-1984) was conducted at two research stations (INIFAP) in the State of Nayarit, Mexico, in conjunction with the Department of Range and Wildlife Management, Texas Tech University. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of fire on the yield and forage quality of six grass species commonly used as cultivated pastures in that area. Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and jaragua grass (Hyparrhenia rufa) were studied at Gilberto Flores M. Experimental Station. Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), green panic (P. ma. var. trichoglume), African star grass (Cynodon plectostachyus), and ferrer bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) were studied at El Macho Experimental Station. Both sites are close to the Pacific Ocean. Each year in late spring experimental areas were burned, and main weather conditions at the time of the burning were recorded. When regrowth initiated, grasses were sampled at 15-day intervals to determine accumulative forage and quality of burned and control plants through m.aturation. The response of grasses to fire varied with species. In general, yield and forage quality of guinea, jaragua, African star, and ferrer bermuda was not improved by fire. Buffel and green panic grasses showed a positive response to fire in both yield and forage quality. Burning is ordinarily utilized by ranchers in those areas,and it may be conducted to eliminate old growth, to maintain pastures free of weeds, and to reduce certain insect pests. Results obtained are of great value for pasture management and animal supplement implications.Item Responses of prickly pear cactus to prescribed burning and cactus-feeding insects(Texas Tech University, 1986-08) Davis, Leanna JNot availableItem Soil nitrogen in a Tobosa grass community as affected by burning, grazing, and clipping(Texas Tech University, 1973-08) Sharrow, Steven HaroldNot availableItem The effect of fire in a sprayed tobosagrass-mesquite community on Stamford clay soils(Texas Tech University, 1976-12) Neuenschwander, Leon FIn a sprayed tobosagrass-mesquite community, a sere consisting of a sprayed (1966) and of an unsprayed control with burns from 1 to 6 growing seasons old was studied for a wet (1973) and a dry (1974) year on the Rolling Plains of Texas. Spring, summer and fall frequency, density, cover and yield were combined into a relative importance value (I max = 600). Significant species were selected from species which had a frequency analyzable by chi-square (ie <_ 6%). A total of 121 species were collected in the sere, of which 37 in a wet (1973) year and 8 in a dry (1973) year were significant. Tobosagrass was singularly the most important species. The community was simple because of the importance of tobosagrass. The response to fire in this community was largely the response of one species, tobosagrass, and reaction of other species to it. Tobosagrass and the community after fire reached equilibrium with the sprayed, unburned area by the sixth growing season. Fire increased the current years growth of tobosagrass. It was about three times higher in the first growing season after the fire than 2 it was in the unburned" area. So biomass increased (Y = a + bX - X^2), yield decreased (Y = a = bX + X^2). They have opposite mathematical functions. Beginning with the yield obtained during the first growing season, biomass and yield from the basis for the horseshoe effect. Biomass, growth rate, canopy area, height and resprout number were studied with individual plants of mesquite, lotebush and pricklypear. Within six growing seasons, the shrubs had regained at least 70% of all growth measurements compared to the sprayed control. Biomass and growth rate of burned plants reached equilibrium with unburned plants by the sixth growing season. Fire inflicted mortality on mesquite (27%) and pricklypear (55.5%) but no lotebush were killed. Seedlings of mesquite were not observed until the third growing season after the fire. Fire stimulated microflora activity. The response of the microflora was similar to the response of tobosagrass. They decreased exponentially after the first growing season across the sere until they reached equilibrium with the unburned area during the sixth growing season. A hypothesis for a mechanism for secondary-autogenic succession following prescribed buming was based on the microenvironmental changes associated with the plant-air layer manipulation. Soil temperature, moisture, infiltration rates, surface plate thickness, organic carbons and nitrogen levels were used with surface litter and percent ground cover to construct the hypothesis. The tobosagrass-mesquite community after burning reached equilibrium as ground cover reached equilibrium (Y = log10X).Item The effects of fire on selected physical and chemical properties of soil in a mesquite-tobosagrass community(Texas Tech University, 1976-05) Whigham, Terry LeeNot availableItem The Use of Prescribed Fire for Bobwhite Quail in Mesquite-Tobosa Communities.(Texas Tech University, 1975-12) Renwald, John DavidNot Available.Item Threshold requirements for burning downed honey mesquite(Texas Tech University, 1984-08) McPherson, Guy RForty-one headfires were burned in west Texas in the spring of 1984. Environmental and fine fuel characteristics (independent variables) were described prior to burning. Discriminant analysis was used to compare ignition and sustained combustion of 1,260 mesquite stems to independent variables. Multiple regression analysis was used to regress percent consumption of mesquite debris against independent variables. Critical variables for predicting ignition and sustained combustion were windspeed, stem moisture content, stem diameter, and proportion of green fuel in the fuel bed. Threshold values for ignition occurred at 6 km/hr windspeed, 6% surface stem moisture content, 5 cm stem diameter, and 15% green:total fine fuel. Threshold values for sustained combustion occurred at 15 km/hr windspeed, 6 cm stem diameter, and 6% stem moisture content at 1.25 cm below the stem surface. A predictive model for percent consumption of mesquite debris was developed. Windspeed and fine fuel moisture content accounted for 59% of the variability. A prescription for burning downed honey mesquite was developed.Item Threshold requirements for fire spread in grassland fuels(Texas Tech University, 1983-12) Clark, Robert GNot available