controlled burn
By Walt Fick, range management specialist
How does fire intensity impact plant response? Fire intensity varies with the amount of vegetation to burn, moisture content of the vegetation, and weather conditions at the time of burning. Last year was a good forage production year across most of Kansas, consequently there was plenty of plant material to burn in 2017.
The National Weather Service started issuing Red Flag Warnings back in February. A Red Flag Warning indicates good conditions for extreme fire behavior. This usually means relative humidity < 25%, wind speeds > 15 mph with frequent gusts > 25 mph, warm air temperatures e.g. >75oF, and 10-hour dead fuel moisture < 9%. Prescribed burning should not be conducted during a Red Flag Warning.
Continue reading “Forage response to fire intensity and time of burning”
