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Research in Tennessee has shown that these dormant season burns increase the overall abundance of insects and spiders that feed our quail broods.
Firebreaks should be tilled to at least 50% bare ground. If erosion is a concern, broadcast wheat, barley or oats into the freshly tilled ground. Lightly cover with a harrow. Recommended seeding rate is at least 1 bushel per acre. Tilled firebreaks are permissible even in CRP fields, if erosion is controlled.
To provide cover within the field through winter months, only burn a portion of any field. The end results will be a field that provides all of a quail's roosting, nesting, and brood-rearing needs.
Follow
these prescribed burn management guidelines:
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Prescribed burning Management Guidelines
Prescribed burning should be done every 3-5 years for the following reasons:
*Remove dead grass and litter to create bare ground between plants for wildlife
*Stimulate germination of legumes, forbs (wildflowers), and other plants beneficial to wildlife
*Reduce vigor of a stand of grass that is too thick for wildlife use (e.g. fescue)
*Kill or set back encroaching woody vegetation
Recommended burning times
August through November
*Stimulates native forb growth and seed germination
*Sets back rank stands of native warm season grasses
CAUTION: burning at this time can cause erosion problems if on steep slopes
Cool season grasses with less than 2" of new growth (Feb - March)
*To prepare for interseeding of legumes into grass
*To stimulate cool season grass
*To stimulate germination of legumes in a rank stand of grass
Cool season with at least 4-6" new growth (April - May)
*To set back thick stands of cool season grass and encourage forbs and annual weeds
*Kill or set back woody vegetation
*Useful to open up thick fescue, brome, and orchardgrass CRP fields
CAUTION: burning at this time will kill germinated annual lespedeza
Native warm season grasses before new growth starts (Feb - March)
*To prepare for interseeding of legumes or forbs
*Recommended for wildlife purposes in good (=thick) stands of
native warm season grasses (NWSG)
Native warm season grasses with 1-3" new growth (April - May)
*To thicken up a poor stand of native grasses or encourage native growth in field
*Kill or set back woody vegetation
*Not recommended for wildlife purposes in good (thick) stands of NWSG
CAUTION: burning at this time will kill germinated annual lespedeza |
Prescribed burning equipment is available at most NRCS/SWCD offices including drip torches, flappers, rakes, and sprayers.
If you need
technical assistance or prefer a
burn plan, contact your NRCS office.
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