Vegetation response to stocking rate in southern mixed-grass prairie
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Authors: R. L. Gillen, J. A. Eckroat, and F. T. McCollum
Date: 2000
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 53
Number: 5
Pages: 471-478
Summary of Methods: Authors measured standing crop and species composition of southern mixed prairie in Oklahoma subject to 7 years of moderate to heavy grazing. Stocking rate had no effect on standing crop (total, live, or dead) over the years with two minor exceptions; 1990, the first year of the study, dead standing crop was not lower at high stocking rates, and 1996 when precipitation was 40% above average, there was an accumulation of live standing crop at low stocking rates. Slopes of regression lines relating standing crop and stocking rate were constant over years, indicating no response for plant productivity. In species composition only threeawns (Aristida spp.) and tallgrasses responded to the treatments (increasing and decreasing with increased stocking rate respectively), but threeawns actually increased more at low stocking rates (opposite response than expected from an invader), and tallgrasses comprised only 5-6% of total herbage. In conclusion, there was higher consumption of herbage due to greater amounts of animals at high stocking rates but no detrimental effects on plant vigor or productivity at the community level.
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: succession, community dynamics, long term effects, threeawn, aristida, tallgrass, grama, bouteloua
Annotation: Stocking rates since 1965 are estimated to have been moderately heavy to heavy. Stocking rates of 23, 26, 34, 41, 48, or 51 AUD/ha were randomly allocated to 6 pastures. Herbage standing crop was measured each year in July and September. For each sample date, 50 quadrats were clipped to ground level to determine total standing crop in each pasture.
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