Growth and reproduction of grasses heavily grazed under rest-rotation management
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Authors: R. E. Eckert, and J. S. Spencer
Date: 1987
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 40
Number: 2
Pages: 156-159
Summary of Methods: Authors determined basal area and frequency of occurrence of native grasses in three big sagebrush-grass communities in Nevada, following 3 years of heavy grazing in a 9-year, rest-rotation grazing system. Thurber needlegrass (Stipa thurberiana) decreased in the grazed plots and increased in the protected plots from 1977 to 1983, Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) and squirreltail (Sitanion hystrix) increased in protected plots in the Wyoming big sagebrush-Idaho fescue (Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis-Festuca idahoensis) community, and bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum) did not differ at all between years. Reducing sagebrush and bluegrass competition did not increase the cover of the understory grasses due to the periodic heavy grazing during the growing season. These results support the contention that such heavy grazing pressure can prevent range improvement in an otherwise appropriate rotation grazing system.
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: basal area, frequency, bluebunch wheatgrass, agropyron spicatum, idaho fescue, festuca idahoensis, thurber needlegrass, stipa thurberiana, exclosures, sagebrush competition
Annotation: A 3 pasture rest-rotation management plan for grazing from May through October was initiated in 1973. Actual use in grazed pastures during years of study varied between 525 and 742 cow-calf AUM's. The grazing sequence over a 3-year period was: A. graze from May-October, B. graze from July 15, seedripe, to October 31, and C. rest year-long. Utilization on study areas in each pasture each year since 1974 was heavy. An exclosure study was established in all 3 community types in the China Mountain Pasture. A brush control study was established on a big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass community type in Panther Canyon Pasture.
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