Journal of Range Management, Volume 40, Number 4 (July 1987)
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Welcome to the Rangeland Ecology & Management archives. The journal Rangeland Ecology & Management (RE&M; v58, 2005-present) is the successor to the Journal of Range Management (JRM; v. 1-57, 1948-2004.) The archives provide public access, in a "rolling window" agreement with the Society for Range Management, to both titles (JRM and RE&M), from v.1 up to five years from the present year.
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Print ISSN: 0022-409x
Online ISSN: 1550-7424
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Recent Submissions
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Journal of Range Management, Volume 40, Number 4 (July 1987)Society for Range Management, 1987-07-01
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Vegetation Recovery Patterns Following Overgrazing by Reindeer on St. Matthew IslandHeavy grazing by extremely high densities of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) on St. Matthew Island in the Bering Sea resulted in degradation of the lichen stands. Grasses, sedges, and other vascular plants initially increased in response to the removal of lichens under heavy grazing pressure by the reindeer. Twenty-two years following the crash die-off of the reindeer, mosses had invaded large portions of the ground area denuded of lichens, and lichens had recovered to only 10% of the standing crop of living lichen biomass occurring on adjacent Hall Island where there is no history of grazing. Lichen species dominating the recovering lichen stands on St. Matthew Island were those of relatively low preference as forage by reindeer in contrast to those in climax lichen stands.
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Use of Microsite Sampling to Reduce Inventory Sample SizeThe objective of this study was to determine if a stratification of microsites within range communities could be used to effectively reduce sampling variation and hence sample size. Two grassland communities were stratified by microrelief patterns. Random sampling designs were applied to each community as well as microsites within the community. Stratification of the community, based on local drainage patterns, reduced standard errors significantly. The pooled microsite data sets were not significantly different from simple random sample data sets for the communities. Sample size reductions of 50 and 60% were observed using the microsite sampling technique.
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The Relationship Between Land Ownership and Range Condition in Rich County, UtahA study was conducted in Rich County, Utah, to determine the relationship between land ownership and range condition. Analysis of variance and paired-plot t-tests were used to compare range condition ratings on Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), state, and private lands. Forest Service land was in the highest range condition, BLM and private land had comparable intermediate condition ratings, and state-owned rangeland was in the lowest condition. Per acre grazing program expenditures in Utah by various land management agencies show an apparent correlation between expenditures and range condition. Thus, range condition may reflect management effort rather than the structure of public land property rights.
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Technical Notes: A Modified Sleeve and Plug Cannula for Esophageal Fistulated CattleAn inexpensive esophageal fistula sleeve and plug cannula was constructed using 38-mm diameter PVC pipe with a 4-mm wall, a Babcock float rod, and laboratory rubber stoppers. The cannulae are easily made and have proven effective in reducing and correcting injury to the lining of the esophagus. Longer sleeves and larger plugs, plus use of 130- × 3-mm circles of rubberized belting material inside the esophagus and sometimes on the outside of the fistula, effectively reduced saliva and rumen content losses from animals with extra large fistulae.
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Some Effects of a Rotational Grazing Treatment on Quantity and Quality of Available Forage and Amount of Ground LitterA 16-paddock, cell-designed, rotational grazing (RG) system was initiated in March 1981 to evaluate the effects of RG on various vegetation response variables and cow/calf production. This 20-month study was initiated in January 1983 to contrast herbage dynamics in the RG treatment to those in a yearlong continuously grazed treatment (MC). Rate of stocking in the RG treatment was 3.7 ha/cow/year as compared to a moderate rate of 5.9 ha/cow/year in the MC treatment. There was no difference between treatments in herbage growth dynamics. Total herbaceous standing crop, however, was greater in the MC treatment than the RG because of greater amounts of senesced forage. The resultant effect on forage quality, in terms of crude protein (CP) concentration and organic matter digestibility (OMD) was that they were generally greater in the RG than the MC treatment. Litter standing crop was also less in the RG than MC treatment although seasonal dynamics were similar. Results indicate differences between treatments were caused primarily by differences in stocking rates and not grazing systems.
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Soil Bulk Density and Water Infiltration as Affected by Grazing SystemsThe influences of continuous, rotationally deferred, and short-duration rotation grazing systems on soil compaction and water infiltration were assessed. Bulk density and water infiltration were measured to evaluate the effects of the 3 grazing systems at moderate and heavy stocking rates. Measurements were made in the spring before grazing and at the end of the grazing season in 1983 and 1984. Bulk density was not affected by grazing systems or stocking rate; bulk density was greater in the fall than in spring of 1984, but not in 1983. Infiltration was significantly lower under the heavy stocking rate than under the moderate stocking rate at the end of the grazing season. The average water infiltration was significantly less in the fall than in the spring for the heavy stocking rate but showed no seasonal effect for the moderate stocking rate. Infiltration was significantly greater under continuous grazing than under rotational deferment but no different from that under short-duration grazing in 1983. However, in 1984 the relationship was reversed. The grazing systems evaluated did not affect soil bulk density and water infiltration in a consistent manner; however, the stocking rate resulted in reduced infiltration during the grazing season.
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Soil and Vegetation Responses to Simulated TramplingAn artificial hoof was used to simulate trampling effects on native shortgrass sods in a greenhouse experiment. Severe to moderate trampling was applied to sods maintained under 3 soil water regimes. Trampling was done either throughout a 32-day period to represent a continuous grazing system, or only during the last 4 of the 32 days to simulate a short-duration grazing system. Soil bulk density increased 3%, and infiltration rate declined 57% under severe trampling. Trampling throughout the 32-day period resulted in 4% higher bulk density than did a similar level of trampling that was applied only during the last 4 days of the trial. Dead vegetation was more easily removed by hoof action than was living vegetation, and severe water stress made plant material more brittle. Aboveground biomass production was 7% greater under trampling that simulated short-duration grazing, and 17% more forage remained in the standing crop under this treatment. About 38% more vegetation was detached by hoof action under simulated continuous grazing as compared with the short-duration grazing treatment.
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Seasonal Growth Rates of Tallgrass Prairie After ClippingIntensive rotation grazing is dependent on the proper timing of livestock movement for success. The timing of livestock movement is in turn dependent on the rate of forage growth, but quantitative information on growth rates of tallgrass prairie is limited. The objective of this study was to develop information on seasonal growth parameters of tallgrass prairie following uniform clipping. Plots were mowed to 10 cm on various starting dates during the growing season and sampled weekly for live standing crop for 10 weeks following mowing. Four and five regrowth trials were completed in 1984 and 1985, respectively. Regrowth trials were analyzed by fitting second degree polynomial regression models to the weekly standing crop data and calculating several growth parameters from the fitted models. The maximum standing crop of forage regrowth declined significantly as the time of initial clipping was delayed (2,300-280 kg ha-1, 1984; 2,400-1,130 kg ha-1, 1985). The maximum net growth rate also declined significantly with season (52-0 kg ha-1 d-1, 1984; 36-16 kg ha-1 d-1, 1985). The time required to reach maximum regrowth standing crop or maximum net growth rate did not vary significantly with season. If livestock movement under rotation grazing was based strictly on the time to reach maximum net growth rate, the length of the rest period for a given pasture would remain constant or even decrease slightly with season. The attainment of a given level of forage in a pasture as a criterion for livestock movement would result in a better balance between forage livestock production than the use of the time to maximum net growth rate.
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Responses of Fecal Coliform in Streamwater to Four Grazing StrategiesConcentrations and loadings (output, number day-1 km-2) of fecal coliform (FC) indicator bacteria were measured from 1979 through 1984 in streamflow from 13 forested watersheds under the following range management strategies: (A) no grazing; (B) grazing without management for livestock distribution; (C) grazing with management to obtain livestock distribution, and (D) grazing with management to obtain livestock distribution and cultural practices to increase forage. Both FC concentrations (number/100 ml) and instantaneous loadings differed significantly among strategies, seasons, and water years. Differences among strategies for mean concentrations were A<C=B<D. For instantaneous loadings, significant differences were A<C, B or D; and C<D. FC concentrations were the same for winter and for snowmelt runoff seasons but concentrations of both were significantly lower than during the summer period. Loadings were different for each season with winter<summer<snowmelt runoff. A definite relationship was established between the presence of cattle on the pastures and FC concentrations. Elevated FC counts in strategy D watersheds and loadings in excess of 10^4 organisms day-1 km-2 in the winter season provide evidence that organisms live into and through the winter period in animal feces, sediment, and soil. Results provide evidence that livestock removal may not provide an immediate solution to elevated levels of FC in streamwater.
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Radiometric Reflectance Measurements of Northern Great Plains Rangeland and Crested Wheatgrass PasturesCalculated reflectance factors and vegetation indices derived from radiometric reflectance measurements were used in regression analyses to test for a single relationship between canopy reflectance characteristics and measured vegetation parameters from 1 moderately grazed and 1 heavily grazed native rangeland pastures and 1 crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) J.A. Schultes] pasture. The study was located on a Williams loam (fine-loamy mixed, Typic Argiboroll) near Mandan, North Dakota. Reflectance measurements were made near solar noon once a week during the 1983 and 1984 growing seasons. There was a statistically significant relationship (r=0.76**) between leaf area index and dry green matter among pastures and years. However, each pasture exhibited a unique relationship (statistically significant) between vegetation indices developed from the reflectance measurements and leaf area index or dry green matter. Based on the techniques and wavebands used in this study, over a given geographic region and with pasture management practices known, it may be possible to remotely estimate green dry matter.
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Nitrogen and Carbohydrate Partitioning in 'Caucasian' and 'WW-Spar' Old World BluestemsTotal nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) and nitrogen (N) in 'WW-Spar' (Bothriochloa ischaemum) and 'Caucasian' (B. caucasica) Old World bluestems were monitored in field experiments during spring-summer and summer-fall growth cycles. The objectives were to determine seasonal partitioning of TNC and N among biomass compartments and to determine relationships between concentrations and pool sizes of TNC and N in the perennating storage organs (stem bases and roots). Average TNC concentrations during the growing season were highest in the leaf sheaths and enclosed stems followed by leaf blades>stem bases>roots. Total TNC was highest in the roots>stem bases>stem plus sheaths>leaf blades. Average N concentrations were highest in the leaf blades>roots>stems plus sheaths>stem bases while the rank for total N was root>stem base>leaf blade>stems plus sheaths. Thus, the perennating organs (stem bases, roots) represented the largest reservoirs for both TNC and N reserves. Reserve cycles were similar in both grass species. Differences were primarily in the perennating organs as WW-Spar bluestem stored more TNC and N in stem bases and Caucasian bluestem stored more of both constituents in roots It is often assumed that plant vigor is related to TNC and N reserves and that management of forage-based livestock production systems can be keyed to reserve cycles. Therefore, we sought to answer the question of whether concentrations alone could adequately predict relative vigor or whether pool sizes must be known. Our analysis showed that concentrations tracked pool sizes of TNC extremely well in the roots, but that the relationship was not as strong in the stem bases. The relationship for N concentration and total N was highly significant for roots, but not as good as for TNC. Concentrations of N were not good predictors of total N in stem bases. Fluctuations in total N were much greater than for concentration. Although nitrogen-use efficiency increased linearly with season, N investment per unit leaf blade area declined. This suggested that nitrogen limitation was the main cause for reduced rates of increase in TNC-use efficiency during the last third of the first growing cycle. This was a time when TNC investment per unit leaf blade area was increasing. In these Old World bluestems, management decisions related to plant vigor can apparently be keyed to TNC concentrations thereby eliminating the more laborious tasks required to determine TNC pool sizes. Further study is necessary to determine the feasibility and economics of using nitrogen fertilizer applications in the final third of a growing cycle to reverse the loss in leaf TNC-use efficiency observed in this study.
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Modeling Variation in Range Calf Growth Under Conditions of Environmental UncertaintyFunctional relationships between calf weights and various managerial and environmental factors were developed using 19 years of performance data from 8 cow-calf herds at the Texas Experimental Ranch. Six models were developed to estimate weights at (1) the first weighing at approximately 75 days of age, (2) the second weighing at approximately 152 days of age, (3) the second weighing, using the first weight as a dependent variable, (4) weaning at approximately 237 days of age, (5) weaning, using the first weight as a dependent variable, and (6) weaning, using the second weight as a dependent variable. R2 values for the equations were .79, .83, .90, .84, .89, and .89, respectively. Equations were functions of the grazing treatment (heavy continuous vs. moderate continuous vs. rotational grazing), level of winter supplementation, age of calf at weighing, crossbreeding, linear and quadratic accumulated production year precipitation, and winter/spring temperatures. Performance of the equations was examined by stochastically simulating them for 360 iterations using 36 years of historical precipitation.
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Estimating Shrub Production from Plant DimensionsRelationships between current season plant production and plant measurements (crown width and volume) were investigated for 4 South Texas shrubs collected during July, 1978. Shrubs investigated were blackbrush (Acacia rigidula), guajillo (A. berlandieri), shrubby blue sage (Salvia ballotaeflora), and kidneywood (Eysenhardtia texana). Regressions of production available to white-tailed deer on both crown width and crown volume yielded coefficients of determination of 25-97%. Log-log and quadratic equations provided better results than linear, logarithmic, or exponential equations. One plant measurement (maximum crown width as an independent variable) produced results comparable to those from crown volume. Range site (sandy loam or gray sandy loam) did not affect plant production:plant measurements relationships, but mechanical treatment (shredding) did. Selecting plants representing the full range of shrub shapes and sizes is critical to the proper use of this method, and treatments which greatly modify plant form will probably require regression equations separate from those for undisturbed vegetation.
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Ecotypic Variation in Selected Fourwing Saltbush Populations in Western TexasFourwing saltbush [Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.] seedlings from 4 western Texas tetraploid populations were established in uniform nurseries at San Angelo, Barnhart, and Marfa, Texas, in 1981 to determine relative adaptability to these respective environments. Survival and canopy development of the ecotypes were similar at the site with the most favorable growing conditions (San Angelo), but the ecotype originating nearest the planting site tended to have greatest survival and canopy size where site conditions were less favorable. Additional shrub attributes evaluated at the San Angelo site included: leaf, current year's stem, and wood phytomass, seasonal nutrient concentrations, and floral development and phenotype. Prediction equations utilizing plant canopy measurements were used to estimate weights of plant components. Variation in canopy size and yields among individual plants within ecotypes masked detection of significant (P lesser than or equal to 0.05) differences among ecotypes, but ecotypes from arid environments tended to be larger and to have greater yields than those from more mesic environments. Concentrations of crude protein (CP), phosphorus (P), and digestible organic matter (DOM) of leaves and stems were similar among the 4 ecotypes. Floral development of the ecotype from the most mesic environment progressed at a faster rate than that of ecotypes from more xeric environments. Ecotypes from xeric environments tended to have fewer staminate plants, but more plants with no sex expression than ecotypes from more mesic areas.
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Economic Returns from Treating Sand Shinnery Oak with Tebuthiuron in West TexasNet returns from control of sand shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) with tebuthiuron [N-(5-1,1-dimethylethyl 1,3,4,-thiadiazol-2-yl)-N, N′-dimethylurea] were evaluated for Southern High Plains ranges. A forage yield function was estimated with regression using 5 years of herbage yield data from the region. The present value of production was determined for 3 calf prices, 3 discount rates, and 4 tebuthiuron treatment rates. Discounted net returns were generally positive with high and moderate calf prices and low and moderate discount rates. The optimum tebuthiuron treatment rate varies with calf prices, discount rate, and treatment cost.
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Diet and Forage Intake of Cattle on Desert Grassland RangeCattle production on desert grassland ranges in southern New Mexico has been low, although limited research shows diet nutritional quality of cattle is adequate to meet production needs during most seasons. Forage intake data are lacking for cattle on desert grassland ranges. Five esophageal-fistulated steers were used to evaluate diet quality and botanical composition on desert grassland range in southern New Mexico. Another 6 steers were used to collect feces to determine intake. Cattle changed their diet with seasonal advance to maximize diet quality. Crude protein concentrations of cattle diets were well above those needed for lactation and daily gain during spring and summer. Diet samples were high in neutral detergent fiber (66-81%), suggesting low energy in the forage. Low forage intake was the main nutritional constraint identified. Even during the summer growing season, organic matter intake never exceeded 1.5% of body weight. We speculate low intakes may have resulted from high summer temperatures that reduced grazing time. During the late fall and winter, low forage quality appears to explain suppressed intake. Protein supplementation in late fall and winter, and energy supplementation in spring, should be advantageous. We caution that data on diet quality without information on forage intake may poorly describe nutritional status of range cattle.
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Cattle Grazing White Locoweed: Influence of Grazing Pressure and Palatability Associated with Phenological Growth StageUnderstanding the conditions in which livestock consume poisonous plants is necessary to develop management strategies to reduce losses. Three 10-day grazing trials were conducted to observe consumption of white locoweed (Oxytropis sericea Nutt.) by cattle. The trials corresponded to the phenological growth stages of white locoweed: (1) flower; (2) immature seed pod; and (3) mature seed pod/seed shatter. Six esophageally fistulated Hereford steers were used to collect diet samples. In trial 1, steers selected the locoweed flower only when supplies of grass and other forbs were depleted. In trial 2, steers voluntarily selected the immature pod, which comprised 50% of their diet by the middle of the trial. There was very little consumption of locoweed in trial 3. Few locoweed leaves were consumed throughout the experiment. Immature locoweed pods were palatable and readily selected by cattle. By restricting access at the immature pod growth stage and insuring adequate forage is available at other times, cattle consumption of white locoweed on this site should be minimized.
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Cattle Grazing White Locoweed: Diet Selection Patterns of Native and Introduced CattleCattle preference for immature white locoweed (Oxytropis sericea Nutt.) seed pods reported in a previous intensive grazing study was confirmed using free-ranging cows under natural grazing conditions. Diets were quantified by bite count. The succulent immature seed pod was palatable and preferentially selected until its supply was exhausted. Locoweed flowers or mature seed pods were not grazed and very few locoweed leaves were consumed. Native cows (born and raised on the range) and introduced 2-year-old replacement heifers (raised in another part of the state with no prior grazing experience with locoweed) consumed similar amounts of locoweed pods.
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Application of Herbicides on Rangelands with a Carpeted Roller: Timing of Treatment in Dense Stands of Honey MesquiteSeveral herbicides were evaluated for control of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) when applied with a tractor-mounted carpeted roller. Experiments were placed in stands with relatively high honey mesquite densities (2,850 to 4,930 plants/ha). An ester of 2,4,5-T was ineffective at concentrations ranging from 3 to 240 g/L when applied monthly from April through September. Equal-ratio mixtures of 2,4,5-T and picloram provided up to 80% mortality (root-kill) when applied at a total concentration of 24 g/L in June, but did not control honey mesquite if applied in September. Mortality obtained with picloram applied alone in June as a 12 g/L solution varied with year and location from 42 to 61%. Picloram provided 61 to 91% mortality at a concentration of 60 g/L when applied in June, and up to 99% mortality when applied as a 120 g/L solution. Picloram was highly effective when applied in July and August in a year of favorable growing conditions, providing 94 and 96% mortality as 60 g/L solutions, respectively. Mortality was reduced to a maximum of 79% when picloram was applied from April through September in a drought year. Clopyralid and a 1:1 mixture of picloram and clopyralid were usually equal or superior to picloram in effectiveness.