Grazing management effects on plant species diversity in tallgrass prairie
-
-
Authors: K. R. Hickman, D. C. Hartnett, R. C. Cochran, and C. E. Owensby
Date: 2004
Journal: Rangeland Ecology & Management
Volume: 57
Number: 1
Pages: 58-65
Summary of Methods: A 6-year study was conducted in tallgrass prairie to assess the effects of grazing management on plant community composition and diversity. Native plant species diversity, species richness, and growth form diversity were significantly higher in grazed compared to ungrazed prairie, and diversity was greatest in the highest stocking density. There were no significant effects of grazing system on plant diversity, nor any significant stocking density x grazing system interactions, indicating that animal density is a key management variable influencing plant species diversity and composition in tallgrass prairie and that effects of animal density override effects of grazing systems. Increasing cattle stocking densities decreased the abundance of the dominant perennial tallgrasses, and increased abundance of the C4 perennial mid-grasses. In half of the years sampled, annual forbs showed the highest frequency under intermediate stocking density. This study suggests that large grazer densities, fire, and annual climatic variability interact to influence patterns of plant community composition and diversity in tallgrass prairie.
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: biodiversity, plant ecology, cattle grazing, range management, grazing systems, stocking rates, flint hills
Annotation: The 13 pastures used in this study were grazed from May-October each year and varied in animal density and grazing system. One pasture remained ungrazed (control) throughout the study. The 12 other pastures were randomly assigned to grazing system with 9 pastures designated for the late-season rest rotation grazing system and 3 pastures designated for season-long grazing. Each of the 3 pastures assigned to the season-long grazing were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 stocking densities (low=3.8, moderate=2.8, and high=1.8 ha per cow-calf pair). The 9 pastures designated for late-season rest rotation treatments were divided into 3 sets. Each of these 3 sets was randomly assigned to 1 of 3 stocking densities listed above. Rest-rotation pastures were grazed May-July.
-
Direct link not available.
-