Fire, Herbicides, and Grazing in the Cross Timbers

Abstract

Effects of fire, herbicide, and grazing on cattle weight gain and plant community production in the Cross Timbers of Oklahoma. were studied. Tebuthiuron and triclopyr were applied alone and in combination with fire in 1983. Cattle began grazing in 1984. The burned pastures were strip head fired in late spring of 1985 to 1987, thereafter, prescribed fire treatments were applied every three years. Cattle weight gains and residue of various plant community components were quantified yearly. Responses of all vegetation components to various herbicide and fire combinations varied among years and treatments. The absence of management in the no herbicide no fire treatment resulted in reduced production. Results suggest absence of fire had a limiting effect on animal and forage production. The absence of applied management practices in a livestock production system within Cross Timbers will result in a reduction in forage production limiting cattle gain.Nomenclature: Tebuthiuron, N-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-N,N-dimethylurea; triclopyr, [(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]acetic acid.Keywords: Tebuthiuron., triclopyr, understory, overstory, prescribed burning, hardwood forest.