Every spring plumes of smoke rise from the prairie and we know that the spring burn season has begun. Burning maintains native grass prairie by eliminating last year’s growth, controlling the invasion of trees and shrubs that would quickly turn the prairie into a woodland, and providing nutrients from the old grass to the new growth. Burning was a regular practice of the native Americans who also used burning as a means of attracting the bison to the new green growth of spring. Later, ranchers used burning to clear pastures and improve grazing.
In recent weeks there have been a number of controlled burns in the Blue Hill area in both Adams and Webster county but it seems those were nothing compared to what is going on in Kansas today. It smells as if every controlled burn in Kansas was set for today. Stepping outside today one will immediately notice the stench of burning grass, and with the wind coming up from the south we soon realize this smell is coming from our southern neighbors in Kansas. The Nebraska Department of Health has issued a air polution advisory. People with any kind of breathing problems should stay inside and away from the pollution.
It is hard to imagine how much burning must be going on down there to have this smell so strong all across Nebraska. But it is reported that they are burning the Flint Hills in Kansas as well as other controlled burns in that state. The odor/air pollution has been reported in Hastings and Grand Island as well as in Lancaster county. I guess we should just mark it down as another of the joys of Spring!
No comments:
Post a Comment