Economic Evaluation of Fire-Based Improvement Systems for Macartney Rose

Abstract

Integration of prescribed burns into management systems with herbicide and mechanical controls is proposed as an economically efficient means of improving the productivity of Macartney rose infested rangeland. Roller crushing followed by prescribed burns produce the highest rate of return (15%) and the lowest maximum investment. However, because of the great regrowth potential of the brush, this low-intensity system is also associated with the greatest risk. Systems which utilize initial mechanical controls followed by aerial application of 2,4,5-T+ picloram and maintenance treatments of prescribed burning and/or individual-plant treatments with herbicides are less risky but more capital intensive. Internal rates of return for the more intensive treatments range from 11.2 to 11.7%. Fire-based systems increase the rate of return by as much as 13.8% over systems with the same initial treatment but without prescribed burning.