The Tucker family allowed faculty from the University of Missouri to conduct several research studies on the property before it was sold. Since 1958, research by students, faculty, and conservation biologists has resulted in more than 50 published papers and 25 theses. Soil studies have shown prairies have as much growth below as above the ground, resulting in relatively rapid soil development. Even with this abundance of organic input, topsoil forms at the rate of only 1 inch in every 100 years. Unplowed prairie soils are rich in organic matter and topsoil, but the tough root systems made manual cultivation difficult. Only when John Deere invented the steel plowshare did farmers begin to voraciously plow the rich prairie soil. Today, less than 1 percent of the original prairies remain in the state.

Many descriptive studies of the plants and animals that inhabit the prairie have been conducted, but one of the first was how to manage Tucker Prairie, a study that continues today. Pre-settlement Missouri can be viewed as an ecological battleground where forests and prairies fought for supremacy. Prairies generally won in the northwest half of the state where rainfall is less, but they also needed sites with relatively dry soils, grazing animals, and periodic fires. Fire also benefits the prairie by recycling nutrients through the ash, removing growth-inhibiting litter and accelerating spring growth.

Management of Tucker Prairie has reflected these dynamics of natural prairies. Because we do not have enough space for supporting grazing well, we have mostly relied on the use of fire for prairie management. From 1958 through 2002, we relied on winter or early spring burns, as this was the standard practice for most prairie management. The effects of such burning can be seen in the 60+ year study at the prairie. In 2002, we changed to a rotation where we attempt to burn each section of prairie twice every 5 years, with one fire in the early spring and one in late summer or early fall. We feel this is more natural and also allows us to stimulate seed set for more species, but weather conditions have sometimes made us deviate from this plan.