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southern MN | Burning uses up organic matter long term, which might not be an issue in some areas.
It eliminates some mineralization of N someday; but that is often over a year in the future.
Getting rid of the fresh organic matter frees up nutrients to be used by the next crop, instead of tied up in that mineralization process and unavailable to a current crop.
Getting rid of the fresh organic mater lets a cold wet soil warm up faster in spring.
Some studies indicate that P and K and other stuff is removed. But it seems they square off a square yard, burn it, and figure any ash that has moved out of that square yard is forever lost. I kinda think that is not accurate, as you burn a whole field the ash shifts a bit with the winds, but what gets blown off this square yard is mostly replaced by what blows in from the next square yard..... The smoke carries a small bit of ash away, but a much smaller bit than some studies try to say? I suppose 25 feet on the upwind side loses nutrients, and 25 feet of the neighboring field gain some, but most of the field does t have much effect.
So, you lose some stuff, and you gain some stuff. Wherever you are located, which of the details are important?
Paul | |
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Burning corn stalks
