Evaluation of native and introduced grasses for reclamation and production
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Authors: W. D. Willms, B. H. Ellert, H. H. Janzen, and H. Douwes
Date: 2005
Journal: Rangeland Ecology & Management
Volume: 58
Number: 2
Pages: 177-183
Summary of Methods: The effect of grass species on soil carbon storage and above ground net primary production on a native and introduced grass stands that exhibit different functional and morphological traits were examined over 5 years near Lethbridge, Alberta Canada (49° 43' N; 112° 41' W). Ten treatments consisting of seven different grass species monocultures (2 of which nonnative) and three all native mixtures were applied to prepared plots treated with two applications of roundup. Vegetation sampling included annual net primary production, for foliar ground cover was conducted in July of each year. Soil cores were taken only once during the fifth year of the study. Soil organic carbon was also measured.
Article Summary / Main Points: Introduced grasses were found to establish more quickly than native grasses as measured by the difference in foliar cover. Native grass monocultures produced higher levels of aboveground net primary production over introduced grass monocultures throughout the 5-year study. Blue grama produced the most soil organic carbon and total organic carbon, whereas crested wheatgrass produced the least in both categories. Species composition had started to shift toward C₃ grasses by the fourth year of the study, producing increased interspecies competition within the native mixtures. During the drought year, introduced grasses performed better than the native grass mixtures. The net production response during the drought showed the dual mixture of blue grama and western wheatgrass had the greatest yield reduction of any treatment.
Vegetation Types: Northern Mixed Prairie
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Monocultures Native species Crested wheatgrass
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: aboveground primary production, blue grama, crested wheatgrass, green needlegrass, june grass, introduced species, monoculture, native species, russian wildrye, soil organic carbon, western wheatgrass
Annotation: The results of this study are applicable to reclamation projects in the intermountain west region with potential to for broader application. The relatively short time period of this study reduced the ability to detect and report soil and vegetation treatment affects by not allowing enough time for soil and community structure stabilization, thus potentially negating the long-term accuracy of the findings. Also seeding and seed viability in the beginning of the study may have been problematic, thus affecting the results.
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