Agriculture (soils, pasture & stock)

Soils

After a fire the land is bare and rain can run off quickly carrying soil and debris. Silts fill up dams and the eroded land can take years to recover. Fence areas can be prone to erosion.

ACTIONS

1

Keep stock off paddocks until grass cover   is established.

2

Consider stock containment areas to allow   other areas to recover and reduce the erosion potential.

3

Try to slow water runoff with straw and   silt traps.

FURTHER INFORMATION

In 2009, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) produced a report called ‘Recovery after fire. Practical steps for landholders’. This document covers many topics and may be useful.

The following documents are listed on the Victorian Landcare Gateway website.

Landcare after the fires - Erosion Control

Managing erosion with temporary sediment traps & fences (DPI)

Sediment fencing factsheet (DPI)

Rice straw article - Victorian Landcare Magazine issue 49

Pastures

Fire changes pastures in different ways according to a number of different factors: the intensity of the fire; the pasture species; the fertility of the soil; the time of the autumn break and follow up rains.

There are several possible courses of action after a fire. The appropriate action will depend on the intensity of the burn, the condition of the pasture prior to the fire and the finance and time available:

  • Cool-moderate burn: The pasture should recover to its original density during the following year given adequate moisture and the absence of soil nutrient deficiencies.
  • Hot burn: In most cases it is probably best to wait a season and see how the pasture recovers before considering re-sowing. However, in some cases it may be a good opportunity to reliably direct drill new pasture species or top up the old pasture.
  • Very hot burn: Almost all plant material will be dead so the area should be cropped or re-sown to pasture following the fire.

FURTHER INFORMATION

In 2009, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) produced a report called ‘Recovery after fire. Practical steps for landholders’. This document covers pasture recovery.

For more detail refer to:

DPI Information Note AG0203: Pasture recovery after fire

Stock

Following fire, you need to decide between feed and agistment. If you decide to feed, containing stock will reduce animal stress, as well as soil and plant loss.

The biggest factor affecting resource damage during dry periods is the amount of vegetative cover retained to protect the soil. The value of removing stock from vulnerable areas during such times cannot be over-stated. Grazing and trafficking by stock can quickly reduce the cover to levels which set-up wind erosion problems.

It is important to act early as unconfined grazing and trampling will put considerable stress on land in an already vulnerable state. If vegetation is removed so that only about one third of the soil remains covered, wind will start blowing soil particles away. Trampling will aggravate the situation and the land will be predisposed to water erosion problems when it rains.

ACTIONS

1

Consider stock containment areas to allow   other areas to recover and reduce the erosion potential.

FURTHER INFORMATION

In 2009, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) produced a report called ‘Recovery after fire. Practical steps for landholders’. This document covers many topics and may be useful.

Agriculture Victoria has these information notes:

Information Note AG0858: Horses and Bushfires

Information Note AG1371: Assessing sheep after a bushfire

Information Note AG1370: Assessing cattle after a bushfire

Also refer to the Victorian Landcare Gateway website and go to Resources - For Land Managers - Fire Recovery Resources for Landholders – Livestock.

Cool-moderate burn: The pasture should recover to its original density during the following year given adequate moisture and the absence of soil nutrient deficiencies.

Hot burn: In most cases it is probably best to wait a season and see how the pasture recovers before considering re-sowing. However, in some cases it may be a good opportunity to reliably direct drill new pasture species or top up the old pasture.

Very hot burn: Almost all plant material will be dead so the area should be cropped or re-sown to pasture following the fire.