The Effects of Burning on Mineral Contents of Flint Hill Range Forages

Abstract

The mineral status of Flint Hills bluestem forage was assessed monthly between 1975 and 1976. Results Indicated that magnesium, potassium, and manganese were adequate for optimum performance of range cattle during spring and summer, but that magnesium and potassium were low in late fall and winter. Concentmtions of calcium, iron, and zinc, highest in spring, were higher throughout the year than established nutrient requirements. Burning significantly. decreased phosphorus and iron and increased magnesium. The low levels of phosphorus and potassium during fall and winter do not affect animal performance. Most of the many minerals essential for animal life normally are present and metabolically available in adequate amounts in pasture so only those likely to be deficient are important to range managers. Pasture, the main source of feed for ruminants, varies widely in mineral content because many factors influence minerals including seasons, soil, cultural or management practices, and stage of plant growth. Higher phosphorus (P) in winter and spring grasses than in summer and fall grasses have been reported (Melville and Sears 1953, Reith et al. 1964), while calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and sodium (Na) peak about September then decline to their lowest in winter (Walker et al. 1953, Hemingway 1962, Karn and Clanton 1976). Blincoe and Lambert (1972) reported that advancing season did not influence copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) contents of crested wheatgrass from April to July in northern Nevada. Cu deficiency was reported in the Netherlands at the end of the grazing season (Hartmans 1969), while Fleming (1970) found Zn content of perennial ryegrass(Loliumperenne L.) increased until late September and then declined. Management practices, such as range burning, also greatly affect mineral status of forages. Range burning has been used to increase protein in forages (Campbell and Cassady I95 1, Smith and Young 1959) and apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and crude fiber (Smith et al. 1960, Grelen and Whitaker 1973). Burning also is believed to benefit plant growth by increasing organic matter, mineral elements, and nitrogen in the soil (Metz et al. 1961, Ahlgren and Ahlgren 1960). The widespread practice of burning in late winter increases protein and P in new growth, but the benefit lasts only until May when the young-leaf stage ends (Campbell and Cassady 1951, Duvall and Whitaker 1964). Glendening et al. (1952) reported mineral contents of prairie grass, mostly bluestem of Kansas. Their work, covering April, July, and winter months of 3 years, showed some minerals de& cient. A wide variety of plants grow under range conditions, and management, stage of maturity, precipitation, and location all affect the nutrient composition of range plants. It seemed to us that a monthly assessment of mineral composition of Flint Hills range

Comparative Effects of Elk Herbivory and 1988 Fires on Northern Yellowstone National Park Grasslands

“…We speculate that the relative 1ack of positive benefits from burning on the Blacktail Plateau forages was due to the rapid speed (2.4 km/h), relative coolness (542 J/m 2 ), and lack of residual burning of the 1988 fires in grasslands (P. Perkins, unpublished data, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming). The Yellowstone fires were cool, fast frontfires; most other comparative studies report on hot, slow backfires (prescribed burns) and most other published studies are in grassland regions (tallgrass, mixed-grass prairie) with greater litter accumulations than for the northern Yellowstone winter range (Old 1969, Lloyd 1971, Uresk et al 1975, Umoh et al 1982. We observed enhanced seed production in grasses due to burning, as have many workers (Uresk et al 1975, Patten et al 1988).…”

“…Most authors report warmer soils (Aldous 1934, Ehrenreich and Aikman 1963, Anderson 1965, West 1965, large biomass increases of grasses (Blaisdell 1953, Mueggler andBlaisdell 1958), increased forb biomass (Antos et al 1983), increased concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, and K (Old 1969, Lloyd 1971, Willms et al 1981, Umoh et al 1982, Ohr and Bragg 1985, and higher digestibility in grasses following burning (Daubenmire 1968, Pearson 1970, Grelen and Whitaker 1973, Rowland et al 1983. The Yellowstone fires were cool, fast frontfires; most other comparative studies report on hot, slow backfires (prescribed burns) and most other published studies are in grassland regions (tallgrass, mixed-grass prairie) with greater litter accumulations than for the northern Yellowstone winter range (Old 1969, Lloyd 1971, Uresk et al 1975, Umoh et al 1982. The higher fiber and lignin levels we observed following burning are in contrast to most reports of lower levels (Willms et al 1981 ).…”

“…moisture, it only slightly increased the aboveground biomass of grasses, and did not affect percent N, macronutrient concentrations, or digestibility of grasses. Most authors report warmer soils (Aldous 1934, Ehrenreich and Aikman 1963, Anderson 1965, West 1965, large biomass increases of grasses (Blaisdell 1953, Mueggler andBlaisdell 1958), increased forb biomass (Antos et al 1983), increased concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, and K (Old 1969, Lloyd 1971, Willms et al 1981, Umoh et al 1982, Ohr and Bragg 1985, and higher digestibility in grasses following burning (Daubenmire 1968, Pearson 1970, Grelen and Whitaker 1973, Rowland et al 1983). Rowland et al (1983) and Seip and Bunnell (1985), however, reported no effect of burning on crude protein concentrations in grasses.…”

Effect of increasing proportion of supplemental nitrogen from urea on intake and utilization of low-quality, tallgrass-prairie forage by beef steers.

“…Forage was chopped coarsely to approximately 13 cm in length and offered at 140% of the previous 5-d average consumption. A trace mineralized salt mixture was formulated based on previous research regarding the mineral content of tallgrass-prairie forage in this region (Umoh et al 1982). The composition of the trace mineral-salt mixture was 64% NaCl, 17% Ca, 13% P, 5% S, .007% I, .24% Fe, .08% Zn, .03% Cu, .004% Co, and .004% Mg. To prevent mineral deficiencies from limiting ruminal fermentation, 35 g of the trace-mineralized salt mixture was administered ruminally in two equal portions concurrent with the morning and evening feedings.…”

Effect of increasing proportion of supplemental N from urea in prepartum supplements on range beef cow performance and on forage intake and digestibility by steers fed low-quality forage2

“…Sufficient quantities of macro-and trace minerals were added to the supplements to ensure that the amounts provided by the total diet fell within NRC (1984) guidelines. The quantities of minerals supplied by the supplemental sources as well as the prairie hay were estimated from literature values (Umoh et al, 1982;NRC, 1984). Vitamin A also was added at approximately 10,600 IU/kg supplement.…”