Drought and grazing: IV. Blue grama and western wheatgrass
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Authors: E. J. Eneboe, B. F. Sowell, R. K. Heitschmidt, M. G. Karl, and M. R. Haferkamp
Date: 2002
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 55
Number: 1
Pages: 73-79
Summary of Methods: This study, Eneboe et al. tested the theory that grazing, during or after drought, could reduce the recovery of plant communities from drought by measuring the tiller dynamics and plant growth of two dominant grassland species (western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis)) in eastern Montana following an imposed severe drought. Tiller recruitment, and tiller density of blue grama and western wheatgrass plants were not negatively affected, and were sometimes enhanced by drought and/or grazing during, and one year following the imposed drought. However, western wheatgrass above-ground production and growth was reduced by drought and the combination of drought and grazing during the study. The authors conclude that grazing during and after drought does not greatly affect the recovery of eastern Montana grassland species and that resting pastures during and after drought years is not necessary to maintain this plant community.
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: blue grama, bouteloua gracilis, western wheatgrass, pascopyrum smithii, production, rainout shelter, rest, water potential
Annotation: Twice replicated treatments were: 1) grazed during the year of drought and rested the year after; 2) grazed both the year of the simulated drought and the year after; and 3) rested in all years, known as the ungrazed treatment. Lysimeters were grazed intensively with 6 ewes and their twin lambs for a few hours in early June and early July of both 1994 and 1995 to achieve 40-50% utilization. The simulated drought was imposed (1 growing season) from May-October, 1994.
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