Maximization of aboveground grassland production: The role of defoliation frequency, intensity, and history
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Authors: C. L. Turner, T. R. Seastedt, and M. I. Dyer
Date: 1993
Journal: Ecological Applications
Volume: 3
Number: 1
Pages: 175-186
Summary of Methods: Turner et al. hypothesized that overcompensation most likely occurs in previously ungrazed tallgrass prairie as a result of stored photosynthate. In a 3-year experiment, the authors found that defoliation history largely controlled whether or not defoliated plants overcompensated for tissue removal. Plants on chronically grazed sites only compensated for foliage removed by grazers. They found that production on plots mowed 1-year prior was similar to sites that had been grazed long-term. Without prior mowing, however, aboveground production was 13-61% higher. On long-term grazed sites, production did not differ after 2-years of rest from sites grazed at a range of intensity. Current mowing regime was more important than mowing history in determining nitrogen concentrations except very early in the growing season. Effects of grazing and mowing were inconsistent, but frequent mowing appeared to limit accumulations of belowground N reserves and biomass. Under chronic grazing or mowing, vegetation is prevented from maintaining high nutrient and water uptake capacity and accumulating reserves that allow overcompensation responses.
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: aboveground and belowground biomass, cattle grazing, defoliation intensity, frequency, history, konza prairie research national area, maximization of production, mowing, nitrogen, overcompensation, tallgrass prairie
Annotation: Treatments were: 1) unmowed (control), 2) mowed to 5 cm above ground level, 3) mowed to 10 cm, and 4) mowed to 20 cm. Vegetation in quadrats on each plot was clipped to ground level on June 16, August 31, and October 28.
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