Burning ditches, roadsides, odd areas and fields. Burning destroys nests, eggs, young and some adult pheasants. Habitat along with food, nesting, brood rearing, escape and winter shelter is destroyed. Burning creates bare seedbeds ideal for weed production. Weed seeds already are in the ground at time of burning.
Organic material is lost from soil through burning.
Loss of groundcover increases soil erosion and siltation of water areas. Grass yields are reduced 50 to 70 percent from fall and spring burning. Burning aids weed removal from ditches that are not accessible by mechanical means. If the residue is burned, all nitrogen and some phosphate, calcium and other minerals are lost. Burning ditch banks, roadsides and odd areas increases farming costs but does not give long-term weed control in return.