Creeping bluestem (Schizachyrium stoloniferum), a major decreaser on Florida range, is adversely affected by grazing during the growing season after a winter burn. Creeping bluestem yield from unburned areas declined linearly within both years as initial harvest was delayed, but delaying initial harvest date had no effect on forage yield from burned areas. Rhizomes of plants burned in February 1979, cut initially in April, and re harvested 4 times had 9.0% total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) in March 1980, while unburned plots contained 10.2% TNC. Quality of re growth declined from June to August and steadily increased from August to December. Improved crude protein and digestibility of regrowth could be realized if forage was burned in February, grazed in June, then regrazed in October or December. Such a grazing scheme would take advantage of higher quality in initial growth forage due to burning, allow for regrowth when creeping bluestem growth is great (June to August), and provide good quality regrowth for winter. This does not imply that creeping bluestem should be burned annually, but when part of a normal 3 to 5 year prescribed burning plan, it would allow for good quality forage without stand loss.
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