RSS 1.0Journal of Range Management, Volume 28, Number 6 (November 1975)
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.
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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 28, Number 6 (November 1975)Society for Range Management, 1975-11-01
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Water Harvesting: A Source of Livestock WaterWater harvesting is a means of supplying stockwater in any area where precipitation is sufficient to grow forage. There are many types of methods and materials which can be used to collect precipitation. Knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment is needed to select the method best suited for a given site. Costs of water collected from various treatments range from less than $0.20 per 1,000 gallons to over $6.00 per 1,000 gallons in a 20-inch precipitation zone.
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Vegetative Changes on Protected Versus Grazed Desert Grassland Ranges in ArizonaComparison of vegetative changes between a protected and closely grazed desert grassland range in southeastern Arizona showed that velvet mesquite was rapidly invading both ranges at almost equal rates. Arizona cottontop, sideoats grama, and wright buckwheat were dominant in the understory on the protected range while rothrock grama, poverty threeawns, burroweed, and annuals dominated the understory on the grazed range. The grazed range was classed in a low stage of range condition, the protected range in an intermediate stage. Without a change in treatment and management, it is postulated that mesquite will continue to increase on both ranges.
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Soil Ingestion by Cattle on Semiarid Range as Reflected by Titanium Analysis of FecesSoil ingestion was determined for cattle grazing a Bromus tectorum range in southern Idaho by measuring titanium concentrations in animal feces collected at 2-week intervals during the droughty 1973 grazing season. The experiment was based on the premise that titanium, which is abundant in soils, is contained only in small quantities (less than 1 ppm) in plants not contaminated with soil. Fecal-soil values averaged 14%, with values ranging from 3 to 30% of fecal dry matter, increasing as forage availability decreased. Soil ingestion levels were estimated to range from 0.1 to 1.5 kg with a median of 0.5 kg soil/animal-day. This soil was ingested primarily with the roots of Bromus tectorum, which were often pulled up and consumed with the aboveground plant parts. Dust on leaves and stems accounted for only a small portion of the ingested soil. Measurements of acid-insoluble residue concentration in feces overestimated soil ingestion because of the probable presence of SiO2 of plant origin. Large changes in forage SiO2 concentrations of the diet reduce the effectiveness of this method compared to the Ti method. Ingested soil may be a possible source of trace minerals, pesticides, heavy metals, and radionucleides that may be sorbed to surface soil particles.
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Soil Fertility and Production Parameters of Andropogon scoparius TillersInherent soil fertility substantially influenced selected production parameters of little bluestem tillers. Net aerial production, heights of tallest flowering culm, and number of flowering culms of tillers grown in clay soil were significantly higher than those grown in sand. Second year survival and regrowth was also greater on the clay soil. Apparently, tillers grown on the sand are highly dependent on a rapid mineral cycle.
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Response of Root and Shoot Growth of Three Grass Species to Decreases in Soil Water PotentialNative grass species show differences in leaf and root growth response to soil water potential. Soil water potential developed by blue grama at the time of leaf growth stoppage ranged from < -80.0 bars at 5 cm depths to -8.4 bars at 35 cm depths, while corresponding values for little bluestem were -24.3 and -3.0 bars, and -30.0 and -15.3 bars for western wheatgrass. Soil water potentials at the time of root growth cessation were somewhat lower with a minimum of -16.6 bars at the 5 cm depth of blue grama and a maximum of -5.0 bars at the 25 cm and 35 cm depths of little bluestem. The R2 values indicate a lower level of correlation between soil water potential and root growth than between soil water potential and leaf growth. In ranking the three mixed prairie grass species as to their growth tolerance to decreasing soil water potential, blue grama ranks the highest followed by western wheatgrass and little bluestem, respectively.
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Resource Allocation through Goal ProgrammingOne of the major weaknesses of using linear programming in natural resource management is that only a single criterion for determining the optimal strategy is allowed. A goal programming model is presented that allows for multiple, conflicting goals. Results are provided for a management area in northern Colorado. The trade offs between goals are demonstrated by comparison of results from multiple runs in which the order of goal preferences is varied. Goal programming is shown to be a very flexible decision aiding tool which can handle any decision problem formulated by linear programming more efficiently.
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Long-term Effects of Pocket Gopher Control on Vegetation and Soils of a Subalpine GrasslandIn the half of an exclosure where pocket gopher populations were uncontrolled, dandelion was eliminated from the community and the aboveground peak standing crop of slender wheatgrass, mountain brome, Michaux sagewort, and Rydberg penstemon increased between 1942 and 1973. In the half of the exclosure where gophers were controlled yearly, most species of annuals were absent in 1973, Letterman needlegrass decreased, and slender wheatgrass increased. Tall forbs, mainly Oregon fleabane and sticky geranium, increased in both areas, but the greatest increase occurred where gophers were controlled. Soils within the exclosure were significantly higher in total porosity and significantly lower in bulk density in 1973 than soils in the adjacent area grazed by sheep. Organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents of the soil were significantly higher where gophers were present in the exclosure than where gophers had been controlled.
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Influence of Maturity on Digestibility and Nutrient Accumulation of Amclo Clover FoliageCultivars of arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.) are becoming important interseeded components of the pasture ecosystem in the humid southeast. This research was conducted to determine the seasonal change in digestibility and mineral composition of "Amclo" arrowleaf clover at various stages of crop development. Three previously unclipped plots of Amclo clover were clipped per week from mid-March until mid-May during 1965 and 1966 to determine the influence of stand maturity on foliar in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and nutrient accumulation. Percent IVDMD generally decreased over the 1965 harvest period from 70% to 48%. However, over the same period in 1966 percent IVDMD increased from 48% in mid-March to a maximum of 72% in mid-April and gradually declined to 48% in mid-May. Foliar potassium (K) appeared to be the only element to change over the experimental period. Foliar K content increased until the middle of the vegetative stage of growth. This increase was followed by a gradual decline in foliar K content through the mature stage of crop development.
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Improvement of Seed Germination in Atriplex repanda PhilSereno saltbush (Atriplex repanda Phil.) is a valuable browse producer in arid coastal regions of central Chile. Direct seeding has been impractical using the heavily indurated fruits, which in laboratory germination tests yield zero to 2%. Among treatments which have been reported, manually clipping off the bracts has been the most beneficial. Debracted fruits which had not germinated would do so once the testa was ruptured. Bract removal without rupturing the testa was ineffective. Virtually 100% germination was obtained after fruits had been debracted and the testa pierced without damage to the embryo which encircles the endosperm. Germination approaching 10% was obtained from 3000-utricle samples after treatment in a modified small legume-seed scarifier which broke the pericarp and freed the seed. Higher values appear possible and the technique may have application to other small fruits with hard coverings.
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Fall Application of Herbicides Improves Macartney Rose-infested Coastal Prairie RangelandsPicloram combined with 2,4,5-T (1:1) at 0.56 or 1.12 kg/ha was the most effective of several herbicides and herbicide combinations applied in the fall for control of Macartney rose. Aerial application of the 2,4,5-T/picloram combination at 1.12 kg/ha reduced Macartney rose canopies on Texas Coastal Prairie rangeland by 70 to 80% after a year. The same rate of 2,4-D, the standard treatment, reduced the canopies by 40 to 50%. The herbicide combination was equally effective whether applied in water containing 0.5% (v/v) of commercial surfactant or in a diesel oil:water (1:4) emulsion. Herbicides more effectively controlled undisturbed Macartney rose than plants that previously had been shredded or sprayed. Increasing the volume of carrier from 47 to 94 liters/ha did not adequately increase Macartney rose control to justify extra application costs associated with the higher spray volume.
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Environmental Factors Related to Medusahead DistributionSites particularly susceptible to medusahead invasion in the more arid portions of Idaho were either those with well-developed soil profiles, particularly those with high clay content either at or near the surface; or those occupying topographic positions that received additional run-off from adjacent sites. In more mesic climates moderately well developed soils appeared as highly susceptible as the well-developed soils. Conversely, soils with little profile development, particularly those which were well drained, remained dominated by cheatgrass in early seral stages regardless of whether they were in the more arid or mesic areas. The nature of the surface geology as it influenced the soil texture derived therefrom was a valuable aid to identifying sites susceptible to medusahead. Maintaining a good stand of perennial vegetation appeared the best barrier to medusahead invasion into susceptible soils.
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Effects of Fire and Mechanical Treatment on Cercocarpus montanus and Ribes cereumEffects of fire and of clipping stems at ground level on the quantity and quality of production (current annual growth) of true mountainmahogany (Cercocarpus montanus Raf.) and squaw currant (Ribes cereum Dougl.) were studied. For both plant species, treatments applied during the dormant season, and especially fire treatments, were more effective in increasing production than were treatments during the growing season. Dormant season burning increased production by 200 to 900% for at least 2 years. As production increased due to treatment effects, the concentrations of crude protein, phosphorus, and calcium decreased slightly in current annual growth of squaw currant. Similar, but nonsignificant trends were noted for crude protein and phosphorus in current annual growth of true mountainmahogany.
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Effect of pH on Germination of Four Common Grass Species of Ujjain (India)The effect of acids and bases on the seed germination of four important grasses were evaluated at Ujjain (India). The species were Iseilema anthephoroides, Sehima nervosum, Apluda mutica and Dactyoctenium aegyptium. The seeds were treated in petri dishes by pH solutions ranging from 2.0 to 11.0 and percent of germination was recorded. No germination was observed at pH 2.0 in any species. In contrast to that of the Apluda, germination of Iseilema and Sehima was better in acidic medium. Dactyloctenium had high germination at all pH levels. The graph between pH and percent germination reveals a curvilinear relationship. Second degree quadratic equation Y=a+bX+cX^2 was fitted for each species to get the best estimate of the percent of germination for any particular pH value. Statistical analysis shows significant differences among the different pH levels and among species.
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Cost and Returns from Reseeding Plains Ranges in WyomingVariable costs of reseeding 64 range sites totaling over 10,000 acres of plains type range in Wyoming averaged $14.26 per acre, and total costs averaged $16.31 per acre at 1972 cost levels. Information obtained from the ranch operators, together with experimental information from various sources and budgeting methods over time, were used to estimate a flow of returns. Investment costs of the reseeding occur immediately, as do costs for deferment. In the third year after reseeding, some beneficial effects are achieved. Full benefits of reseeding, including a higher percentage calf crop and a larger number of heavier yearlings available for sale, are not achieved until the fifth year. Allowing for the lag in response, the rate of return on reseeding Wyoming plains ranges is estimated at approximately 21.5% at 1972 cost and price levels.
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Control of Honey Mesquite by Shredding and SprayingSimultaneous shredding and spraying of honey mesquite were studied in the Rolling Plains of Texas. Mature trees were shredded and sprayed monthly, May, 1972, through October, 1972 (September was omitted). Herbicide treatments consisted of 2,4,5-T amine, 2,4,5-T ester, and Tordon 225 Mixture applied alone and in combination with naphthalene acetic acid (1, 5, 10, 50, and 10,000 ppm). Very high percentage root mortality was obtained when the trees were shredded and sprayed in May, with somewhat lower percentages obtained from treatments applied in June and October. Root mortality obtained from treatments applied in July and August was generally lower than that obtained from treatments applied during any other month. However, results from treatments applied any month of the study exceeded the results one could expect from either shredding or spraying applied alone during a comparable period. Tordon 225 Mixture was consistently most effective in controlling shredded mesquite. Therefore, shredding accompanied by a simultaneous herbicide application has potential in control programs.
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Cattle Grazing and Wood Production with Different Basal Areas of Ponderosa PinePonderosa pine stands were thinned to various basal areas on the Wild Bill Range near Flagstaff, Arizona, to determine the effects on beef and wood production. Beef gain potential was maximum at zero basal area and was one-third less when ponderosa pine was present at basal areas of 20 ft/2. Physical relationships and the 1972 prices suggest that the combined economic value of grazing and saw log production would be maximum in tree stands having a basal area of about 45 to 60 ft/2
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Carbohydrate Reserves in Roots of Sand Shin Oak in West TexasTotal nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentrations in the root system of sand shin oak (Quercus havardii) were analyzed from January, 1972, through December, 1973. Effects of shredding on root reserves were also explored. In both years root TNC varied with the different phenological growth stages. Reserves were gradually depleted throughout the dormant season, November to April, until the low of 6.5 and 7.0% was reached in early May of 1972 and 1973, respectively. TNC then began to accumulate in the roots when the leaves were from 1/3 to 1/2 full size. Shredding significantly reduced root reserves for 6 months. Early leaf expansion is a good indicator of downward carbohydrate translocation and may be the best guideline available for the application of systemic herbicides to effect oak control.
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An Inventory of Rangeland Brush Control Projects from ERTS-1 Space ImageryShrub-brush manipulation projects have had major ecological and economic impacts upon the 9,136 square miles of public and private rangeland in Malheur County, Oregon. Analysis of imagery from the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) indicated that space-acquired data used in conjunction with field data, holds a potential for identifying, classifying, inventorying, and monitoring these changes occurring on rangeland areas.
