Economic Returns from Burning Tobosagrass in the Texas Rolling Plains

Abstract

Based on 7 mutica) in the Abstract prescribed burning trials on tobosagrass (Hihria Rolling Plains of Texas from 1968 to 1976, burned tobosagrass ranges yielded an additional present value of $36.16/ha (S14.64/ac) over 5 years with calf prices at Sl.BZ/kg (S.731 lb). Additional costs are SlO-12.50/ha (S4-S/at). These results are based on average precipitation on ranges which had prior chemical treatment on mesquite. The prescribed burns were conducted according to recommended practices. Tobosagrass (Hihriu mutica (Torr.) Benth.) is a grass which builds up large quantities of litter (Wright 1969). This litter makes tobosagrass less palatable to cattle and decreases both plant and animal production as litter accumulates. Burning removes excess litter and increases the grass palatability and yield for several years. Although cattle will use tobosagrass after a burn (Heirman and Wright 1973), the investment decisions are affected by soil moisture and economic considerations, including livestock prices and interest rates on borrowed capital. Prior research on prescribed burning of tobosagrass has been on the physical relationships involved. Wright (1972) studied fire as a management tool in mesquite-tobosagrass communities; 1 location was in the High Plains and 6 were in the Rolling Plains of Texas. His results showed that burned plots reached equilibrium with unburned plots in about 5 years, and reburns could be conducted every 5 to 8 years without forage loss, depending on the site. Tobosagrass is most heavily used in the first and second year after burning. Also, burning improved tobosagrass productivity, controlled broomweed, reduced cactus, removed dead mesquite wood, and killed some honey mesquite (P. glandulosa Torr. var. glanduloss). Heirman and Wright (1973) measured the effects of burning on the composition and production of a High Plains grass community and on cattle use of tobosagrass. Tobosagrass production increased threefold the first year after the burn. They concluded that in mixed stands of tobosagrass and buffalograss (Buchfoe ductyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.), grazing pressure was absorbed primarily by tobosagrass during spring and again in late summer-early fall. On 5 burned and unburned locations in the Rolling Plains, Wright (1969) concluded that fire could control mesquite without adversely affecting tobosagrass production. Yield of tobosagrass was higher on all burned plots compared to the unburned plots. Also, late spring and early summer rainfall most influenced tobosagrass production. Bunting et al. (1978), working on the southwestern edge of the Rolling Plains, found that (I) elimination of excess litter was a major reason for increased tobosagrass production, (2) tobosagrass and other herbs reached equilibrium with control plots by the end of the fifth year after burning, and (3) growing season rainfall following the burn was very important. Workman (1976) described an economic analysis of prescribed burning which consisted of comparing treatment cost with discounted net annual returns. The identified factors which affected the economic feasibility of a prescribed burn were: (1) herbage increase, (2) percentage of this which could be harvested, (3) value of each added unit of forage, (4) life of the treatment, (5) treatment