So there’s actually a little more to it than just SOM…….Here’s something else that’s a problem for some folks……Again I’m using an extreme here to represent the concept while many stands may suffer from the same thing but to a lesser degree…..The stand below is not just out of balance from a grass to broadleaf ratio…..The carbon to nitrogen ratio is also likely out of whack as well. Proper decomposition needs a balanced mix of carbon and nitrogen no different than how a carburetor balances fuel and oxygen…..

This field is flooded with carbon which means the soil cycling from the chart above is probably pretty stagnant……The cycle isnt going round and round like it should…… This end product is not really that productive for anything other than being used as cover and even still its not the proper plant or stand structure you want ……You just cant imagine how thick the grass really is until you try to walk through it...Look at the bank of the creek and you can get some sense of the thickness.... What this field really needs is a dormant season cow herd run across it……Trample and poop….trample and poop…..crank up the soil…..stimulate the seed bank…….change the stand structure…..spread a little clover behind them…..Maybe even bring the cow herd back in later in the growing season…..Maybe even run a growing season fire through it……Anything other than just another dormant season fire like it probably keeps getting….. Fire is good……..Using it wrong is not…..This area would be way more productive as a more diverse native prairie…. Ironically this field borders right up to a neighboring cattle farm.