Burning and Fertilization for Range Improvement in Central Oklahoma

Abstract

Controlled burning with combinations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer were evaluated for improving a poor condition range. After two annual burns the botanical composition was improved. Reduction of prairie threeawn and rapid recovery of decreaser species were the most obvious improvement factors. Fertilization did not contribute to the speed of recovery. Nitrogen fertilizer produced in excess of 36 lb of forage for each pound of nitrogen applied to the burned plots. Phosphorus produced a significant forage yield increase in 1967 but potassium was not effective in changing forage yield or species composition. Range containing much low quality vegetation should not be fertilized.