| Phillip Johnson, Alfonso Gerbolini, Don Ethridge, Carlton Britton, and Darrell Ueckert |
| Authors are assistant professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Tex. 79409-2132; assistant manager, Premium Standard Farms, Dalhart, Tex. 79022; professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Tex. 79409-2132 ; professor, Department of Range, Wildlife and Fisheries, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Tex. 79409-2125; and professor Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, San Angelo, Tex. 76901. |
Abstract |
| Redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.) is a common invasive brush species that reduces rangeland productivity over vast acreages in the Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau regions of Texas. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the economic feasibility of redberry juniper control and determine the optimum treatment cycle for maintenance burning. A response equation was used to estimate the relationship between herbage production and redberry juniper canopy. Data to estimate the relationship was obtained for a site in the Texas Rolling Plains. The analysis used chaining as the initial treatment and periodic prescribed burns as maintenance treatments. Additional livestock production resulting from brush treatments and the costs of treatments were estimated and used to calculate net present values of the investment in brush control over a 30-year time horizon. Net present values indicated that juniper control was economically feasible across a wide range of economic and environmental conditions. Prescribed burn intervals were found to be optimal at 7-year intervals under most conditions. |
| Key Words: optimal re-treatment interval, prescribed burning, brush management |