"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
Farm1 wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
songbird wrote:

local fire burglars?

Those who set fires, either because they think it improves their
pasture (it doesn't) or for fun, or both.

Why do you say it doesn't improve pastures? From observation, I'd
say it probably did improve pastures even if just because it cleans
out things like tussocks and other weeds etc and doesn't add anything.

Yes it does reduce some obvious weeds and gives a nice green flush if you
get a shower of rain afterwards. It is cheap compared with slashing.

But....

If not a hot fire it selectively reduces more tender grasses to the
benefit of tougher ones (eg blady grass), if a hot fire it also tends to
destroy the stolons of the grass along with the weeds so favouring
seed-propagated grasses over perennials. I think a mixed pasture with
both is desireable.

It reduces organic matter which helps to hold soil moisture and nutrients,
I want to build organic content not burn it.

It reduces volatile nutrients, eg nitrogen compounds, which then have to
be replaced with chicken litter, urea etc.

It pollutes the air.

If heavy rain falls or strong wind blows after burning it can result in
erosion.

To me it a practice of yesteryear along with set stocking in big paddocks,
random (in)breeding and 'when in doubt add more super(phosphate)'. I
*might* consider doing it once to begin the rehabilitation of a badly weed
infested paddock but as an annual ritual I think it is very misguided.

have a look at this:

http://www.northern.cma.nsw.gov.au/d...hernrivers.pdf

I finally found time to read parts of that cite.

I noted the obligatory full page Aboriginal recognition (yawn!) and later a
whole 2 paragraphs devoted to regular burning (underline that) and one of
paras referring to north coast (underline that) blady grass impacts.

Not a lot of use nor ornament. No doubt that publication was designed to be
handed out like a free lollie at small farm field days. (And yes, I do
acknowledge that I am a cynic).

A number of points that occured as I read your post:

You're talking about regular burning whereas I wasn't thinking specificially
about regular burning. We don't burn our pasture regularly (or ever), don't
know anyone who does or ever has done, so I am more interested in the
impacts following a sometimes burn such as what happens after, say, a grass
fire.

Stolons aren't a feature of all pasture grasses, are somewhat rare aren't
round here and I've never even heard of blady grass. But if a fire can
manage to kill the stolons of white clover, then I might just set fire to my
rose bed where the sodding clover is growing like Topsy. It's where I grab
handfuls to feed the cows mouthfuls when they decide to hang over the gate
between the veg garden and the paddock.

Erosion following fire may or may not happen. It's never a given.

Palatability of regrowth is worth a consideration. I don't like tough old
lettuces and I've no doubt that pasture grazers prefer lush growth to dry
standing forage.

Nutrients in burned grasses can't all be lost. Some of it must return to
the soil in the form of ash.