Managing mesquite brush is a never-ending task for Texas ranchers. Mesquite and other invasive plants quickly take over pastures and choke out native grasses. The deep-rooted trees are known for robbing water from other, more productive plants and animals. The Texas Water Development Board reports that mesquite and similar woody plants can use 19 to 47 gallons of water per tree per day, depending on conditions.
Mesquite management using controlled burns was popular on large ranches and still plays a vital role, but its use on smaller acreages is less practical and less common. Poisoning and grubbing mesquites are the most popular methods of killing the pest, but to remove the biomass, both methods require heavy equipment to rake and pile the unwanted brush.
Recently, mulching has emerged as a less intrusive and more sustainable alternative. Understanding the long-term results and a bit of the science behind each method can help ranchers make the best choice for their land needs.
“Tried and True” Brush Piles
Traditionally, ranchers use heavy equipment, such as bulldozers or skid steers, to pile unwanted brush for burning at a later date. For instance, in North Texas, many ranchers clear mesquite and stack the brush into large piles that often dot the landscape until burn bans are lifted. Previously, the immediate benefits of less brush, more grass, and more water outweighed the obvious negatives.
Practices of “raking” trees into piles disrupt most of the surface, tearing up the grass and topsoil while further compacting the underground habitat. Ground compaction not only destroys animals’ tunnels but also reduces the surface’s ability to absorb water, creating an environment that produces more runoff and erosion.
Brush piles further prevent grass growth and create an unsightly nuisance with a dark side. These “tender boxes” dry in the Texas heat as local ranchers wait for ideal conditions and for local authorities to lift the burn bans, which are commonly in place for most of the summer. Fires are inherently dangerous, and brush piles create significant liability before and during burning. More machinery is needed to spread the ashes after burning as well.
Science Behind Burning ~ Nitrogen Loss & Carbon Release
Nitrogen is a key nutrient governing plant productivity and soil biological activity. Mesquite brush is packed with nitrogen. When the brush is burned, much of the nitrogen contained in woody biomass and foliage is volatilized during combustion. High temperatures from burn piles convert organic nitrogen into gaseous forms, which are lost to the atmosphere rather than retained in the soil.
Studies have documented approximately 80% nitrogen loss from woody debris following a prescribed burn, meaning much of that fertility is lost to the atmosphere rather than retained in soil. Although ash left after burning may temporarily increase soil pH and provide a small pulse of mineral nutrients (green spots), nitrogen availability often declines rapidly because ash contains little stable nitrogen.
Carbon dynamics are among the most significant differences between these two land-clearing strategies. Burning trees rapidly converts stored biomass carbon into carbon dioxide. Combustion releases decades of accumulated carbon into the atmosphere within hours, directly contributing to gas emissions and, most importantly, long-term soil degradation.
The New Kid on the Block ~ Mulching Mesquites
Mulching uses heavy equipment fitted with rotating blades or drums to grind brush into a manageable mulch, which is left to return to the soil surface. Instead of piling brush or hauling it away, the vegetation is shredded into a layer of organic material that remains on the ground where it was originally grown.
Mulch can be spread into a thin organic layer, helping prevent erosion during heavy downpours while slowing water flow and allowing the land more time to absorb the precious substance. A 2023 analysis found that mulching practices reduced runoff by 47% and soil loss by 76% across treated areas. Another hidden benefit, mesquite mulch protects the ground from the “Texas” heat by providing shade and reducing high ground temperatures that can damage grass roots and lead to more erosion.
Long-term research indicates that soil moisture remains elevated year-round under mulched treatments compared to untreated land. Flower beds are a prime example of moisture retention in a thick layer of mulch. A thin spread of well-ground mulch is a unique shade that allows the grass to grow around it as it decomposes.
Mulch size and its spread are key to success, as thin layers also prevent the buildup of excess, deep mulch that can alter fire behavior. Small trees are ideal, while larger trees must be spread; otherwise, the decomposition time is too long, and the grass will be shaded out. This is similar to spreading ashes in terms of the heavy equipment required. Mulching of this style is a new process being introduced in the North Texas pastures and will become more efficient over time.
Science Behind Decomposition ~ Nitrogen Retention & Carbon Retention
Mulching keeps most of the carbon on site, and the process doesn’t rely on weather patterns or permission from local authorities. Instead of being emitted immediately, carbon is incorporated into surface organic matter and, over time, into soil organic carbon pools. While some carbon is eventually released through microbial respiration, this process occurs slowly, allowing some of the carbon to become stabilized in the soil.
Carbon credits have surfaced on the ranching scene, putting carbon in the limelight. Increased soil organic carbon improves soil structure, water-holding capacity, and resistance to erosion, making mulching a more climate-conscious, long-term, and beneficial approach to brush management.
As mulch decomposes, it supports soil food webs, including fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates, which are critical for nutrient cycling and aggregate formation. These biological processes enhance soil resilience and build healthier, more sustainable ecosystems.
Benefits of Mulching Over Burning
For most modern ranching operations, mulching provides clear advantages:
Year-Round Flexibility – Unlike burning, which requires specific weather conditions and coordination with regulations, mulching can be used year-round.
Fire Safety – Eliminates the risk of runaway fires and accidental brush pile fires near roads, protecting ranchers from liability and costly damage. Note: Thin layers of well-ground mulch prevent the buildup of mulch that can alter fire behavior.
Soil Health – Leaves behind a protective mulch layer that conserves moisture and builds long-term soil productivity, rather than burning piles, which destroy the nutrients, scorch the surface, and create bare soil.
Wildlife Habitat – Mulching keeps the work localized, without the need to rake the entire pasture into piles, thereby destroying less grass and preserving the underground habitat.
Carbon Retention – Instead of releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere through smoke and destroyed gases, mulching keeps carbon in the soil and woody material, helping improve soil structure and water retention, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Final Thoughts
For Texas ranchers balancing productivity, safety, and sustainability, mulching brush offers a practical and environmentally conscious solution. Scientific evidence demonstrates that mulching supports continuous land productivity for cattle by enhancing soil health through improved moisture retention and increased soil organic carbon.
In addition, mulching reduces the risk of fire, limits nitrogen and carbon loss to the atmosphere, and fosters beneficial soil biological processes, thereby contributing to long-term ecosystem resilience.
While burning remains appropriate in certain contexts, the scientific advantages of mulching — particularly in terms of nutrients, carbon, and water — underscore its suitability for modern ranching, especially given the challenges posed by frequent drought and fire in Texas. By integrating mulching in ranching practices, ranchers aren’t just eliminating brush—they’re investing in healthier soils, improved carbon storage, and more resilient ranch operations for generations to come.
By: Boone Campbell, Broker for Campbell Farm & Ranch
This article is featured in the Spring 2026 Issue of To Be Young Magazine.
References:
1. Texas Water Development Board. (2010). Brush management for water conservation and livestock production (Report 360, Chapter 16). Texas Water Development Board. Available at: https://www.twdb.texas.gov/publications/reports/numbered_reports/doc/R360/Ch16.pdf
2. Wolk, B. H., Stevens-Rumann, C. S., Battaglia, M. A., Wennogle, C., Dennis, C., Feinstein, J. A., Garrison, K., & Edwards, G. (2020). Mulching: A knowledge summary and guidelines for best practices on Colorado’s Front Range(CFRI-2001). Colorado Forest Restoration InstituteColorado State University. Available at: https://cfri.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/02/FRRT-Mulching-Knowledge-Summary-and-Implementation-Guidelines-1.16.20.pdf
3. Covington, W. W., & Sackett, S. S. (1984). The effect of a prescribed burn in southwestern ponderosa pine on organic matter and nutrients in woody debris and ing forest floor. Forest Science, 30(1), 183–192. Available at: https://ifgtbenvis.in/build/bibilography/ The%20effect%20of%20a%20prescribed%20burn%20in%20southwestern%20ponderosa%2 0pine%20on%20organic%20matter%20and%20nutrients%20in%20woody%20debris%20an d%20forest%20floor.pdf
4. Fan, D., Jia, G., Wang, Y., & Yu, X. (2023). The effectiveness of mulching practices on water erosion control: A global meta-analysis. Soil & Tillage Research, 438: 116643. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706123003208