Shocking images of brushfires tearing across the West recently are a vivid reminder that dry conditions can create big troubles — and losses — for farms and ranches. For the families who lost family members, many trying to protect animals, the devastation is heart-rending. As you pick up the pieces, Colorado State University Extension offers some tactics you can employ to help keep that land productive.

There are approaches you can take to help protect both soils, and crops grown, on those burned acres.

Address potential soil erosion potential. Organic matter on those burned acres is most likely gone, leaving bare ground. Light-colored, sandy soil types are more prone to wind erosion than are darker-colored, heavier clay soils.

Regardless of soil type, a cover crop may be an option to prevent future soil erosion. Cool soils early in the year dictate that cool-season plants be employed. A number of options exist — including oats, barley, rye and wheat — that can be planted at this time of year. These are cool-season grasses that establish quickly and grow well in cool spring conditions.

One option recommended by Ron F. Meyer, CSU Extension area agronomist, is to consider a no-till strategy for planting. That would mean using a drill at 2 inches deep, without tillage. Given the timing, reducing the number of field passes makes sense as well.

Meyer also noted that if dry soil conditions exist, planting slightly deeper may help find moisture and increase the planting rate by about 15%, too. "Keep in mind that although an excellent stand is not necessary, adequate plants need to be established to hold the field during future wind events later this season," he says.

Other emergency erosion-control strategies. Meyer also suggests emergency tillage to produce ridges and clods, in an effort to make the field more wind erosion-resistant; application of livestock manure to trouble spots, with a minimum of 6 tons per acre; and if irrigation is an option, apply water to increase soil moisture levels, prior to emergency tillage.

Meyer advises that if an adequate cover crop can be established you have two options:

• Grow out the cover crop and harvest for seed or forage.
• Allow the cover crop to grow to about 6 to 8 inches, and then control it with a herbicide. A cash crop could then be planted directly into the covered field using a planter equipped to handle crop residues.

He notes that farmers should check with their crop insurance agent regarding any cropping options using a cover crop established. And don't plant a field with irrigated cropping plans unless the irrigation system is functional. Delays with repair parts and labor may cause that field to be farmed dryland during this growing season.

Meyer notes that if an irrigated crop is planted into burned acres, you'll want to boost fertilizer rates slightly. The loss of organic matter due to burning may require N, P and K levels to be raised to compensate. "My best estimation is to raise nitrogen rates by about 25 pounds per acre, and phosphorus and potassium levels by about 15 pounds per acre," he says. "Watch crop color during the season and add additional nitrogen if yellow plants begin to appear."

He advises that addressing damaged cropland issues early will limit crop production problems later.

Source: Colorado State University