Effects of Range Burning on Kansas Flint Hills Soil

Abstract

Two tallgrass prairie areas burned annually for 20 (grazed) and 48 (ungrazed) years at different times showed differences in soil chemical and physical properties. Winter, early-spring, and mid-spring burned ungrazed plots were generally higher in soil pH, organic matter, and K than late-spring burned or unburned plots. Late-spring and winter burning lowered soil N on ungrazed and grazed plots. Differences in soil nutrient levels though statistically significant probably were not large enough to affect plant growth.