Implementing Rotational Partial Rest/Patch-Burn Grazing in the Flint Hills, Kansas
Abstract
The tall grass prairie is the most altered ecosystem in North America. The Greater Flint Hills region in Kansas and part of northeastern Oklahoma has the single largest tall grass prairie landscape left, with about 2.6 million acres of relatively unfragmented prairie remaining. The Flint Hills are also is one of the last strongholds of the greater prairie chicken. However, surveys have found the number of leks in the Flint Hills to have fallen by 50% since 1987. Fort Riley is the largest tract of publicly-owned tall grass prairie; since 1987 its number of leks has increased. In the mid-1980's a new range management practice was implemented in the Flint Hills; i.e., annually burning in late spring, followed by intensive early stocking (IES) of cattle. Annual burning and IES is often more profitable than traditional grazing methods in the Flint Hills, but reduces the heterogeneity of the prairie. The decline of the greater prairie-chicken coincides with the introduction of IES and annual burning. Population reductions are believed to be caused by reduced cover available to nesting hens. Other grassland birds may be adversely affected as well, such as Henslow's sparrow.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA534621
Entities
People
- Brian Obermeyer