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Journal of Range Management, Volume 34, Number 3 (May 1984)
ABOUT THE COLLECTIONS
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.
The most recent years of RE&M are available through membership in the Society for Range Management (SRM). Membership in SRM is a means to access current information and dialogue on rangeland management.
Your institution may also have access to current issues through library or institutional subscriptions.
Print ISSN: 0022-409x
Online ISSN: 1550-7424
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Contact the University Libraries Journal Team with questions about these journals.
Recent Submissions
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Journal of Range Management, Volume 34, Number 3 (May 1981)Society for Range Management, 1981-05-01
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White-tailed Deer Diets from Pastures in Excellent and Poor Range ConditionA study was initiated in August, 1975, to examine the forage available to and diet composition of white-tailed deer on pastures of excellent and poor range condition at the Sonora Research Station near Sonora, Texas. Grass and forb standing crop and deer feeding time on these two forage classes were considerably higher on the pasture in excellent range condition than that in poor range condition. Browse standing crop and feeding time was greater from the pasture in poor range condition. The Merrill 4-pasture grazing system appeared to increase the availability and use by deer of grass regrowth. Yearly averages of crude protein and phosphorus were higher in diet samples collected from the pasture in excellent range condition. Digestible energy levels were similar between pastures when averaged over the 1-year period. Digestible energy levels in diets were, however, higher from the excellent condition pasture in every season except winter. In winter, deer fed primarily on the foliage of oak on excellent condition range; but on the pasture in poor range condition, deer used large amounts of foliage and mast from juniper and dead leaves of persimmon in addition to oak foliage. Juniper and persimmon apparently contributed to the higher digestible energy levels observed on the pasture in poor range condition during the winter season. Energy may be a major nutrient limiting deer production on the Edwards Plateau.
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Translocation and Storage of 14 C-labled Total Nonstructural Carbohydrates in Honey MesquiteTranslocation of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) in mature honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa) trees was studied by photosynthetically incorporating 14 CO2 on eight dates during the summer of 1975. Several plant parts were analyzed for TNC and relative total activity (RTA) to determine direction of translocation and sink strength. Stem and twig TNC fluctuated more than basal bud TNC in response to phenological development. Pods were generally the strongest TNC sink except during initial pod formation (June 25), when bidirectional translocation occurred and all plant parts sampled contained equal concentrations of the 14 C label. A RTA/TNC ratio used in conjunction with RTA and TNC suggested that increased TNC concentrations in the pods and stems may not always be due to increased import of TNC but caused by a reduction in growth with constant importation. Greatest translocation of TNC to the basal buds occurred between the phenological stages of green flower spikes (June 10) and pod formation (June 25) and during pod maturation (August 4 to August 19).
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Toxicity and Control of Kelsey MilkvetchKelsey milkvetch (Astragalus atropubescens Coult. and Fish.) contains miserotoxin (β-glucoside of 3-nitro-1-propanol). Chemical analyses and biological evaluations indicated moderately low concentrations of the toxin in this species. However, this plant has been implicated in cattle losses and a potential danger of both acute and chronic poisoning exists on grazing areas where kelsey milkvetch grows in abundance. It grows in mountainous areas in the Salmon River drainage in Idaho and the Big Hole River drainage in Montana. Kelsey milkvetch was controlled with an application of 2.24 kg/ha (2 lb/ac) of 2,4,5-T[2,4,5-tricholorophenoxy)acetic acid] and eradicated with an application of silvex [2-(2,4,5-tricholorophenoxy)propionic acid].
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The Binary Search for Accuracy in Plant SymbolsThe transfer of data from field sheets to computer files always involves the risk of errors being made in plant symbols or other identifying codes. If a master list of symbols or codes is incorporated into the software programs used for data entry on CRT computer terminals the risk of making errors can be substantially reduced. This is done by utilizing the highly time efficient binary search to compare each entered symbol or code with the master list. Detection of errors before the data are transferred to computer files saves much time which would otherwise be spent in retrieving and correcting files.
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Sediment Production as Influenced by Livestock Grazing in the Texas Rolling PlainsThe influence of livestock on sediment production was evaluated on a Clay Flat range site with shrub canopy areas, and midgrass and shortgrass interspace areas in the Rolling Plains near Throckmorton, Texas. Sediment production in the shrub canopy areas was similar across grazing treatments of heavy and moderate stocking, continuous grazing; rested and grazed deferred-rotation; rested and grazed high intensity, low frequency (HILF); and two livestock exclosures which had not been grazed for 20 years. Sediment production from the shortgrass interspace area was similar for all grazing treatments except from the heavily stocked, continuously grazed pasture, where sediment production exceeded that of the rested HILF treatment. The midgrass interspace sediment production for the heavily stocked, continuously grazed treatment exceeded that of the deferred-rotation treatments and the exclosures. Likewise, sediment production for the grazed HILF treatment was greater than that for the rested deferred-rotation treatment and exclosure. Soil and vegetation variables which significantly influenced sediment production included aggregate stability, organic matter content, mulch, standing crop, bulk density, and ground cover.
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Sand Dams as a Feasible Water Development for Arid RegionsWater development is an important aspect of range improvement, particularly in arid regions. A structure including a masonry dam and a collection field of perforated pipes was covered with coarse gravel and capped with sand to develop a low evaporation water source at a remote location. Animals were permitted access to the collected water at a downstream trough. Following development, previously unused forages were utilized by livestock for the first time.
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Root Biomass Calculation Using a Modified Counting TechniqueData on root weight, length, and surface area are useful in soil characterization, ecosystem description, and studies of plant-soil interaction. Characterization of root systems is often thought to be so laborious and inaccurate that little data are collected. Root counts are used in soil surveys to evaluate root abundance; but these counts are not useful in most applications where data on roots are needed. An improved counting method provided root count data which correlated with measured root weight (AW = 0.97 PW, r2=0.85) where AW = actual weight and PW = predicted weight. Counts were made in a dm2 plexiglass frame parallel to the soil surface under short-and mid-grass prairie vegetation. As many as 30 samples were necessary to estimate root biomass within 25% (P<.10) with either root weighing or counting methods. Total root biomass calculated from root counts in the upper 100 cm of 15 southeastern Montana soils and in mine spoils ranged from 310 to 1,610 g/m2 which is similar to published data on root biomass in other grassland communities.
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Response of Western North Dakota Mixed Prairie to Intensive Clipping and Five Stages of DevelopmentThe effects of clipping to a 2.54 cm (1 inch) height at 5 stages of development of western North Dakota mixed prairie were investigated. Soil moisture content at the beginning of the growing season had a greater effect on yields than did the clipping treatments. Observations from this two-year study indicate that soil moisture removal was not affected by the clipping treatments. Clipping significantly affected peak yields by needle-and-threadgrass (Stipa comata) and the Carex species during 1977; and the miscellaneous grasses (Agropyron smithii and Agropyron subsecundum) during 1978, at the sandy loam site. No significant differences in yields were observed for the other species and groups at the sandy loam site, or, the species and groups at the loam site for the two-year-period.
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Response of Bobwhites to Cover Changes within Three Grazing SystemsIn south Texas bobwhites responded to short-term changes in the amount of vegetative cover within three grazing systems, two rotational and one continuous. Use by quail apparently was related to increases in amounts of bare ground and forb cover and decreases in grass cover.
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Preliminary Observations on the Performance of Some Exotic Species of Atriplex in Saudi ArabiaSeeds of seven different Atriplex species (four from the United States and three from Australia) were germinated in the greenhouse and then transplanted to field plots at the Regional Agriculture and Water Research Center (RAWRC), located at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were obtained on vegetative growth, flowering, seed production, seed germination, and chemical composition of the plants. There were marked differences between species in vegetative growth. All flowered normally, but seed production and seed germination percentages differed among the species. All species were high in protein and ash content. Further field studies are underway at different sites within the Kingdom to test the potential value of Atriplex for the improvement of Saudi Arabian rangeland.
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Nodulation and Acetylene Reduction by Certain Rangeland Legume Species under Field ConditionsAcetylene reduction rates, N2[C2H2], were obtained to estimate nitrogen fixation by several introduced and native range legume species. The N2[C2H2] fixation rates of excised root segments with attached nodules were measured in the field for legumes from two mountain grassland sites, one native sagebrush-dominated site, and three cultivated former big sagebrush study sites. Sampling was conducted in the driest part of the growing season. Even during this high stress period, nodules were present and active in some legume species. Medicago sativa plants were particularly notable because of their capability of being nodulated and ability to reduce acetylene in dry soils when other legumes were not active. In addition, under the most favorable environmental conditions in this study, nodules from M. sativa reduced acetylene most actively at a rate of 26.2 micromoles ethylene/h/g nodule fresh weight. Although nodulation was generally less successful in New World than Old World lupine species, Lupinus mutabilis was capable of reducing acetylene at a rate of 4.97 micromoles ethylene/h/g nodule fresh weight, even in a severely water stressed environment. These results suggested that some legume species may be capable of fixing significant amounts of nitrogen on semiarid range sites.
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Mulching, Furrowing, and Fallowing of Forage Plantings on Arizona Pinyon-Juniper RangesMulching with plastic film, cinders, or juniper slash; deep furrowing; and fallowing increased penetration and retention of soil moisture, delayed soil surface crusting, and lowered seeding-zone temperatures in tests at five different pinyon-juniper range locations. Responses of seven forage species to these practices varied. The combination of plastic film mulching, deep furrowing, cinder mulching, and fallowing uniformly had resulted in greater soil moisture, more seedlings, and better early growth than other combinations. Plants under juniper slash had a longer growing season and were protected from excessive grazing by rabbits, with no evidence of toxic effects from the juniper. Cinder mulch increased seedling emergence and establishement, but in one year appeared to be toxic to the planted species. Deep furrowing generally had no advantage over surface drilling. Fallowing benefited pubescent wheatgrass and fourwing saltbush at a cold-moist pinyon-juniper site. The number of seedlings emerging gave little indication of the plant stand several years later.
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Low-energy Grubbing for Control of JunipersLow-energy grubbing was effective and economical in controlling sparse to moderate stands of junipers infesting rangeland. A small, 48.5-kW (65-hp), shift-on-the-go crawler tractor, as compared to tractors larger than 74.5kW (100-hp) normally used, was adapted for grubbing by attaching a U-shape blade to the front mounted C-frame for root cutting at depths of 15 to 30 cm. A 98% plant kill was achieved because uprooting of trees below the bud-zone prevented sprouting. The newly designed hydraulic attachment significantly improved tree uprooting. Grubbing rate was a curvilinear function of juniper density and varied approximately from 4.0 to 0.5 ha/hr (10 to 1.25 ac/hr) to remove 80 to 500 trees/ha (30 to 200 trees/acre). Cost varied from $6.00 to $50.00/ha ($2.40 to $20.00/acre).
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Herbage Capacitance Meter: an Evaluation of Its Accuracy in Florida RangelandsThis paper reports results of regression analyses of the use of a capacitance meter to estimate herbage weight. Estimation of dry weights was found to be as accurate as estimation of green weights. Analysis of covariance for three factors, site, season of year, and year of data collection, showed only season significantly (P<.01) affected the relationship between herbage weight and meter reading. Simple linear regressions were compared to natural logarithmic regressions. Logarithmic regressions were found to be better predictors of herbage weight as determined by Furnival's Index. Winter and spring proved to be the best time to use the capacitance meter, probably due to decreased effect of moisture fluctuations on the meter's performance.
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Forest Grazing: Past and FutureLivestock have grazed western forests since the 1850's. Policy changes with the inception of government regulation and the end of the free open range brought profound changes in the livestock industry. With increasing demands for timber, recreation and wildlife, grazing began to decline in importance as a use of National Forest ranges. Yet, livestock grazing on forest range is critical to yearlong operations of the ranchers who use them. With proper management livestock can be increasingly important not only as meat and fiber producers, but as part of all land management on national ranges.
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Estimating Twig and Foliage Biomass of Sagebrush, Bitterbrush, and Rabbitbrush in the Great BasinShrub crown characteristics useful in regression equations for predicting two biomass components (annual production and fine fuels) were identified for six shrubs common to the Great Basin. Shrub characteristics most useful in these equations were maximum and minimum crown diameter, and crown denseness and depth. Prediction equations were developed for each species or subspecies included in this study. Additionally, biomass equations were developed for combined species or subspecies of morphological similarity within the Artemisia genus.
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Esophageal, Fecal and Exclosure Estimates of Cattle Diets on a Longleaf Pine-Bluestem RangeMicrohistological analysis of esophageal or fecal materials provides an accurate and efficient method for evaluating botanical compositions of cattle diets on native longleaf pine-bluestem range. For practical purposes fecal analysis is the preferred method. Plant species that were most important to cattle during the present study were the bluestems and panicums.
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Effects of Range Improvement on Roosevelt Elk Winter NutritionThree pasture types dominate the Beneke Creek Wildlife Management Area on this Roosevelt elk winter range in northwestern Oregon. In winter, elk showed a strong preference for perennial ryegrass pastures that were hayed the previous summer and fall fertilized over bentgrass pastures also hayed and fertilized or unmanaged bentgrass pastures. These perennial ryegrass pastures provided forage that met minimal requirements for digestible protein and digestible energy all winter while both bentgrass pasture types were deficient in these nutrients through winter. Improvement of bentgrass pastures by conversion to ryegrass should result in higher rates of elk reproduction and better survival of offspring.
