South Florida flatwoods range vegetation responses to season of deferment from grazing
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Authors: R. S. Kalmbacher, F. G. Martin, W. D. Pitman, and G. W. Tanner
Date: 1994
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 47
Number: 1
Pages: 43 - 47
Summary of Methods: Five exclosures were established in a frequently burned, infertile, wiregrass (Aristida stricta) dominated, flatwoods range in south Florida to evaluate range improvement by deferred grazing. There were no differences in plant biomass between treatments, except for the year-round exclosure having somewhat higher values of shrubs and preferred grasses relative to all other treatments. Frequency of the preferred grasses, little blue maidencane (Amphicarpum muhlenbergianum), chalky bluestem (Andropogon capillipes), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and lopsided Indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum), did not increase even after 8 years in exclosures that were always closed compared with other treatments, which were not different. Shrub biomass was greater in the treatment that was always closed, and biomass increased quadratically over years. There were no effects due to treatments on less desirable grasses and forbs. The undesirables were mostly effected by a year x treatment interaction. Kalmbacher et al. conclude that this biennially burned, seasonally flooded, infertile wiregrass range is not highly responsive to grazing or deferment from grazing, hence responses may not justify the inputs required for more intensive grazing management.
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: wiregrass, aristida stricta, florida flatwoods range, range condition, species composition
Annotation: Portions (2 to 3 km2) of the range were burned November-March and about 300 head of cattle concentrated grazing on recently burned areas. Five grazing treatments were evaluated from December 1982 to November 1990. These were: exclosures closed to grazing December-March; closed April to July; closed August to November; always open; and always closed.
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