Switchgrass recruitment from broadcast seed vs. seed fed to cattle
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Authors: W. R. Ocumpaugh, S. Archer, and J. W. Stuth
Date: 1996
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 49
Number: 4
Pages: 368-371
Summary of Methods: An equal number of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) seeds were deposited in plots by fecal or broadcast seeding and the germination and establishment of these seeds was monitored to determine which seeding method was more successful in this area. The number of intact seeds in cattle fecal pats was determined and the number of broadcast seeds were adjusted to match this amount, however, the percentage of germinable seeds was greater for the broadcast seeded plots because cattle digestion reduced the number of germinable seeds by 30%. Regardless of the reduction in the number of germinable seeds, fecal seeded plots had more, larger established switchgrass seedlings than broadcast seeded plots both years after seeding occurred. The results of this study suggest that fecal seeding could be a successful method for distributing switchgrass seeds to rangelands. However, the authors caution that the experimental plots used in this study may not realistically represent rangeland conditions as they had limited competition, due to the control of other vegetation prior to seeding, and increased water availability, due to twice weekly irrigation of plots.
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: panicum virgatum, seed dispersal, revegetation, restoration, plant establishment, seed germination, seed-feeding
Annotation: Seeds were fed to cattle on 4 study dates, once in May and once in October for 2 years. Grazing intensity is not specified.
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