tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post1983023155765077103..comments2023-05-08T21:42:05.380-04:00Comments on Blue Jay Barrens: Indian Grass as a Management ToolSteve Willsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02098584432333519732noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-28853631156246626072010-10-06T19:08:39.157-04:002010-10-06T19:08:39.157-04:00Thanks, Mel.Thanks, Mel.Steve Willsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02098584432333519732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-81401184603185910322010-10-06T01:39:51.174-04:002010-10-06T01:39:51.174-04:00OK. Interesting about the species you find at the...OK. Interesting about the species you find at the Barrens that are fire-intolerant. I think your results speak for themselves through your pics. What you've got going on far outshines any other results I've seen.mel.smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04876658417042443414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-11004216805600048622010-10-04T20:41:57.814-04:002010-10-04T20:41:57.814-04:00Mel – Fire is certainly an effective tool for keep...Mel – Fire is certainly an effective tool for keeping trees and shrubs from taking over a field. The decision to use fire in a particular situation should be based on the species of flora and fauna in the mix and the resources available to the land manager. I use management techniques that can easily be used by the typical private landowner. Since a certified burn team is not among the tools I have at my disposal, it would be hard for me to burn the prairies in a safe and legal manner. I’m also not convinced that fire played a significant role in maintaining prairie openings in my area. There are too many native species, many of them State rarities, that are not tolerant of fire and would never have persisted in an area that was frequently burned. If my methods were not effectively keeping woody vegetation under control, I would not be able to show pictures of a field full of Indian Grass.Steve Willsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02098584432333519732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-82592018717372086642010-10-04T08:16:47.086-04:002010-10-04T08:16:47.086-04:00Another question before I move on from your Indian...Another question before I move on from your Indian Grass post: What's your opinion of fire as a management tool to keep out the woodies and improve the prairie environment? You may have answered that question when we toured Blue Jay Barrens some years ago, but I can't recall how you answered.mel.smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04876658417042443414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-69203895637397593842010-10-02T20:34:58.123-04:002010-10-02T20:34:58.123-04:00Hi, Marcie. I've found that this is a great w...Hi, Marcie. I've found that this is a great way to get areas going in the right direction while you're busy working on other projects.Steve Willsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02098584432333519732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-51245157514952452362010-10-02T10:14:25.471-04:002010-10-02T10:14:25.471-04:00I'm very interested in your method of seeding ...I'm very interested in your method of seeding with Indian Grass to discourage exotics and encourage natives. We have several "old fields" that we're trying to restore to prairie - this may be the way to go. It may be that we'll have to find a way to 'hay' them before it will work. Great ideas!Marcie O'Connorhttp://www.aprairiehaven.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-87397479285867784242010-10-01T20:25:11.680-04:002010-10-01T20:25:11.680-04:00Cheryl – I think it’s possible that part of my suc...Cheryl – I think it’s possible that part of my success is due to the low fertility of the soil I’m dealing with. I believe the initial burst of grass growth pulls nutrients from the soil that are then caught up in the cycle of plant growth and decomposition. Even though the old growth decomposes fairly rapidly, it will be about two years before the nutrients locked in this year’s living leaves and stems are released for reuse by the plants. This impoverishment of the soil causes the thinning of the Indian Grass and allows for the introduction of grasses and forbs with different growing seasons and growth regimens.<br />Old fields with higher fertility levels can form persistent solid stands of Indian Grass. In cases like this, reducing available plant nutrients in the soil could reduce the stand of Indian Grass to the point where it would act as it does in my fields. This nutrient reduction can be accomplished by cutting and removing the Indian Grass as hay. Each load of Indian Grass hay removed from the field takes with it plant nutrients and leaves the soil in a condition closer to the needs of the typical prairie flora. Eventually a state is reached in which the prairie plants flourish at the expense of those unwanted exotics. This practice of soil impoverishment is used by many prairie restorationists.<br /><br />Hi, Lois. I try to learn one new thing each day; and the next day I hope to remember what that one thing was.<br /><br />You’re right Mel. I’ve stayed away from USDA programs to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interests. I also have a habit of doing things in a way that seems to conflict with accepted procedures.<br /><br />Hi, grammie g. I left that white flowered plant unnamed because it is intended to serve as the poster child for all rare grassland plants. It’s called Great Plains Ladies’ Tresses and you can find more pictures in a post I did way back on September 21, 2009.<br />I keep the trees out by mowing, cutting and spraying. Every time I turn my back, some new tree tries to pop up.Steve Willsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02098584432333519732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-90189463788578321732010-10-01T15:55:05.342-04:002010-10-01T15:55:05.342-04:00Hi Steve... So is that you don't know yet what...Hi Steve... So is that you don't know yet what the white flowerd plant is ??<br />It is lovely and I have seen similiar here in the same type of areas but it was light purple!!<br />I see you have some color in the trees there!!<br />How do you keep young tree growth from growing in the field??grammie ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00839269423384232974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-63966379988375222552010-10-01T08:28:19.811-04:002010-10-01T08:28:19.811-04:00You seem to be accomplishing exactly the goal that...You seem to be accomplishing exactly the goal that so many of our USDA programs are designed to perform. But I'm guessing you've preferred to do it on your own. Is that right?mel.smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04876658417042443414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-42861082848506027172010-10-01T07:41:07.386-04:002010-10-01T07:41:07.386-04:00I continue to learn so much visiting here. Fascin...I continue to learn so much visiting here. Fascinating.Lois Evensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129343619065721588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6629602865933201771.post-59062366773251413562010-10-01T07:27:09.151-04:002010-10-01T07:27:09.151-04:00Great info Steve-
I had always heard Indian gra...Great info Steve- <br /> <br />I had always heard Indian grass "took over." But, I have never heard that it would open up again. That's my kind of plan: work smarter, not harder! <br /><br />CherylWeedpicker Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529273252200443042noreply@blogger.com