FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE REF: 17-3-12-99
CONTACT:
Leslie Woodard
(806) 742-6399, ext. 227
TEXAS TECH APPROVES FIRE ECOLOGY CENTER TECH RESEARCHERS LEAD NATION IN GRASSLAND FIRE ECOLOGY STUDIES
LUBBOCK -- The Texas Tech University Board of Regents recently approved the creation of the Fire Ecology Center in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources' department of range, wildlife and fisheries management. Financed through grant funding, the center will be a force for educating and informing both the general public and other universities about Texas Tech's accomplishments in grassland fire ecology and about grassland fires in general.
According to Rob Mitchell, Ph.D., professor in range and wildlife management, some people are not aware of the positive impacts of fire on grasslands, especially prescribed, or planned, fires. "The primary objective for burning Conservation Reserve Program grasslands is generally the removal of accumulated debris, which recycles nutrients and increases the quantity and quality of light for the grasses." Burning generally results in increased grass production, increased grass seed production, improved forage quality for grazing animals and reduced insect populations, he explained. Another function of planned burning is to remove dead material as an alternative to shredding, to prepare the site for reseeding or conversion to cropland.
Mitchell adds that while some fires are destructive, causing loss of life, building destruction, human anxiety and short-term wildlife habitat loss, the result of grassland fires most likely will be positive. "If you see an area that has been recently burned, make a mental note of the location of the fire. Return to that area in the middle of May and you will be amazed. The grass in the recently burned area will emerge before the grass in the non-burned area if moisture is adequate, because the soil temperature is higher in the burned areas. The grass in the recently burned area also will be much greener than the grass in the adjacent non-burned areas because more nutrients are available in the burned areas."
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program that offers annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term resource-conserving covers on eligible land. Annual rental payments are based on the agricultural rental value of the land.
One reason for burning CRP grasslands is to reduce the fine fuel (dead grass), thereby reducing the potential of wildfires. All prescribed fires are set in very precise areas with great precaution and planning. "We start the fire under very controlled conditions in a manner in which we can manage the fire, whereas wildfires are much more difficult to control," said Mitchell. "When you reduce the amount of fine fuel available, the concern for wildfires is reduced, because a wildfire has very little left to burn."
Native range lands, which are found off the Caprock, also can benefit from prescribed fires. Fires are planned in these areas to decrease the amount of woody plants, like redberry juniper and honey mesquite. These types of plants compete for water, nutrients and light required for optimum grass production and other productive agricultural activities.
Mitchell and his colleagues are conducting other research that the Fire Ecology Center may help fund and promote. For example, prescribed fire can help improve wildlife habitat.
"Quail benefit greatly from fire," continued Mitchell, "in that fire usually increases forb (broadleaf weeds and flowering plants) production on a site. This accomplishes two things: more weedy plants produce more seeds, which are vital food for young quail. By increasing the flowering plants, you also increase the insect population, which is also important to juveniles because insects have very high protein content."
Mitchell, along with coworker Carlton Britton, Ph.D., and Don Rummel from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, are conducting other research looking at the effects of fire on the boll weevil population. Mitchell says CRP grasslands are a good winter habitat for the weevils. By burning these grasslands off, the home of the boll weevil is essentially destroyed, and the boll weevil dies.
Still another project looks at the effects of burning on fire ant populations. Burning off debris in grasslands and range lands makes fire ant mounds more visible. Mitchell and associate Brad Dabbert, Ph.D., currently are writing a paper on the use of fire as a way to expose ant mounds for better estimation techniques.
Mitchell and Britton also are currently writing a textbook, which they plan to publish through the Fire Ecology Center. The volume will provide new information on grassland fire ecology. Mitchell's predecessor, Henry A. Wright, Ph.D., former Texas Tech professor and mentor, who died in 1994, wrote "Fire Ecology", the current standard reference text on the subject. "We've been using fire in grasslands more than 30 years here at Texas Tech, and this is really the home of grassland fire ecology studies in the United States," Mitchell said.
Texas Tech's range and wildlife management team can offer many guidelines on how to avoid setting unplanned fires and how to minimize damage once one is burning. The crew also can be scheduled to plan and execute prescribed burns. "Arson and accidental fires have no place in grasslands because the likelihood of human injury and property damage increases dramatically," Mitchell said.
Mitchell has high hopes for the Fire Ecology Center. "It will be used primarily for preaching the gospel of fire here, letting people know what we are doing and what we have done historically."
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Contacts: Rob Mitchell, (806) 742-2842, or e-mail to [email protected]. Carlton M. Britton, (806) 742-2842, or e-mail to [email protected].
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