Blue grama-buffalograss response to grazing: A Weibull distribution
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Authors: K. K. Remington, C. D. Bonham, and R. M. Reich
Date: 1992
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 45
Number: 3
Pages: 272-276
Summary of Methods: Weibull and normal distribution patterns were used to describe blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) production in lightly and heavily grazed pastures in the shortgrass steppe of Colorado. The results of field measurements revealed that the plant height data were skewed to the right and that as grazing intensity increased biomass became increasingly skewed to the right as well. The results revealed limitations of the normal distribution in describing data distributions for plant height and biomass. Because of these limitations, the Weibull distribution is then suggested as an alternative to the normal distribution. This recommendation is based on the fact that the Weibull fit all data for each level of grazing and each date, while the normal was very limited in describing the data. The authors concluded that the Weibull distribution could provide more realistic estimates of blue grama/buffalograss production in the shortgrass steppe than the normal distribution and therefore should be used as a forage production indicator in grazing management decisions in this area.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: weibull distribution, normal distribution, shortgrass steppe, cattle grazing patterns
Annotation: Two 130-ha enclosed pastures were used. The initial stocking rates were 76 AUM 130/ha for the heavy and 40 AUM 130/ha for the light; in late October the rates were reduced to 13 AUM 130/ha for the heavy and 7 AUM 130/ha for the light.
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