Insecticides were sprayed experimentally at several sites on short-grass plains vegetation by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to determine effectiveness for grasshopper (Acrididae) control. Effects of the applications on resident wildlife were studied by the Denver Wildlife Research Center. Observations were also made on the effects of an operational range caterpillar (Hemileuca oliviae) control program with toxaphene. Direct effects on birds varied widely with the chemicals applied, spray rates, and conditions. Applications (in ounces of active ingredient per acre) that killed birds and resulted in significant population decreases were: Fenitrothion (9.6 oz), BAY 77488 (4.6 and 9.3 oz), diazinon (5.0 to 8.0 oz), and toxaphene (16 oz). Applications that resulted in significant population decreases under some conditions, but without any observed bird mortality, were: Fenitrothion (6.3 oz), Baygon (3.0-4.0 oz), and Guthion (4.0 oz). Applications without observed direct effects on wildlife were: BAY 77488 (2.5 oz), carbaryl (6.4 oz), malathion (6.8 oz), and Mobam (3.0 oz). Registration and use of pesticides for range grasshopper control should be limited to those that degrade rapidly in the environment, have the least direct impact on wildlife, and have been thoroughly field-tested.

The effect of saliva contamination on chemical composition of forage collected from esophageal fistulated steers grazing sandhill grassland was studied over four different seasons. Salivary contamination of grazed forage significantly increased the ash component but did not change other chemical constituents calculated on an organic matter basis. The increase in ash attributed to saliva varied with species of plants and season of grazing.

It is estimated to take from 20 to 40 years for overgrazed ranges in the rough fescue and ponderosa pine zones to recover to excellent range condition when fully rested. Little change in plant composition took place inside exclosures, placed on poor condition range, in less than 10 years following fencing. It took longer for the sites to progress from poor to fair condition than from fair to good condition. The main plants to increase with protection were bluebunch wheatgrass and rough fescue. The main species to decrease were Sandberg bluegrass, low pussytoes, and rabbitbrush.

A 4,000-acre pinyon-juniper management unit was established on the Tonopah Ranger District, Toiyabe National Forest, in central Nevada during 1968. Initially, an inventory was conducted to obtain basic data about this woodland type. By initiating silvicultural practices, the pinyon-juniper stand, forage production, wildlife habitat, soils and watershed values were improved. Eight times as many Christmas trees of an improved quality, and five times as many juniper fence posts can be produced. Forage production and shrub cover density were increased. Bitterbrush, the dominant shrub, increased in vigor and total growth. Managing selected pinyon-juniper areas can provide greater multiple use benefits and economic returns.

In four consecutive years of planting, intermediate pits have shown superior establishment and herbage yields with Boer lovegrass, Lehmann lovegrass, and kleingrass on semidesert range in the 6- to 8-inch summer rainfall zone in southern Arizona. Intermediate pits were compared to the smaller conventional pits and the larger, wider spaced bulldozer pits. Herbage production of Boer lovegrass average two times as high, over a four-year period, in intermedate pits as in conventional pits and three times as much as on similar adjacent untreated range./Debido a que la resiembra de pastizales en las áreas de baja precipitación, no han tenido gran éxito. Se inició el presente estudio para determinar el mejor método de preparación de la cama de siembra. Se utilizó el pasto Lehmann Lovegrass A-68 (Eragrostis lehmanniana) como testigo y además se sembraron A-84 Boer Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula var. conferta3, A 12638 Kleingrass (Panicum cloratum) y la variedad "vaugh" del pasto banderilla (Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr.). En este reports se summarizan las producciones de 1964 a 1968 de áreas plantadas en 1962, 63, 64 y 65. Las áreas sembradas se encuentran en el sureste de Willcox, Arizona. Los suelos en el área de estudio fueron migajón venenoso con una capa abajo de migajón areno arcilloso (series "Sonoita-like" y "Cowan-like") con pendientes del uno porciento a cerca de completamente planos. Se excluyó el ganado del área y se controlaron las hormigas. Las microrepresas convencionales fueron realizadas con un arado de discos modificado de un largo de 18-24 pulgadas (45.7-60.9 cms), 12 pulgadas (30.5 cms) de ancho y 6 pulgadas (15.3 cm) de profundidad. Las microrepresas con bulldozer fueron de 6 pies de largo (1.8 mts), 8-10 pies (2.4-3.1 mts) de ancho y 6 a 8 pulgadas (15.2 a 20.3 cms) de profundidad. Las microrepresas intermedias de 6 pulgadas (15.2 cms) de hondo, 6 pies (1.8 mts) de largo y 5 pies (1.5 mts) de ancho, dichas microrepresas intermedias fueron hechas con un tractor con cuchilla montada atrás. En las parcelas de microrepresas convencionales y modificadas de muestreo con 20 cuadrantes de 2, 4 pies cuadrados 0.22 m2. El muestreo sistemático incluyó toda la superficie. En las microrepresas hechas con Bulldozer el muestreo se hizo con 20 cuadrantes de 9.6 pies cuadrados (0.86 m2). Los datos de producción se tomaron después de la segunda época de crecimiento. Se concluyó que las microrepresas intermedias mostraron un establecimiento y producción de forraje más alto con Boer lovegrass, Lehmann lovegrass y Kleingrass. El pasto Boer lovegrass en promedio produjo 2 veces más materia seca total en las microrepresas intermedias que en las convencionales y 3 veces mas que en áreas adyacentes similares sin tratar y cerca de 9 veces mas que en las microrepresas hechos con bulldozer.

The Great Basin Experimental Range in central Utah completes 60 years of continuous ecological research in 1972. Scientists at this experiment station have pioneered research in watershed management, range management, climatology, and plant ecology. Great Basin Experimental Range will be the locale for the Society's summer tour for 1972.

A new fee hunting system in western South Dakota is described. Its development, operation and probable reasons for future success or failure are suggested. Economic influences alone may encourage development of similar hunting systems, especially as increased hunting pressure is felt by landowners. This paper presents an approach which could further the cause of range management while simultaneously maximizing the economic return from rangeland.

Perennial wheatgrasses were seeded in fall, 1967 and 1968 on fallows created by atrazine at 1 lb./acre applied the previous fall or by mechanical means. Atrazine residue in the soil during seedling establishment (1.5 years after application) ranged from < 0.04 to 0.15, 0.09, 0.08, and 0.06 ppm, respectively, in the 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4-inch soil samples. Residue was less than 0.04 ppm from 4 to 8 inches. Seedlings of perennial grasses were injured or killed by these residue levels. However, poor stands were obtained at only two of seven locations in 1969 with crested wheatgrass. Generally, stands of intermediate and pubescent wheatgrasses were superior to crested wheatgrass. Species response was also evaluated on fallows created by 0.5, 1.5, and 2.0 lb./acre atrazine.

Repeated annual applications of 2,4,5-T [(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) acetic acid] or silvex [2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid] reduced the density of tall larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi (Huth) Huth) below a level that is potentially dangerous to grazing cattle. Killing tall larkspur and other forbs resulted in a plant community dominated by grasses. The dominant species of grass depended on whether the treated plot was grazed by cattle. Letterman needlegrass (Stipa lettermanii Vasey) dominated on grazed plots and mountain brome (Bromus carinatus Hook. & Arn.) dominated when plots were protected from grazing cattle. Reinvasion of treated areas by tall larkspur and the unpalatable weedy species occurred more rapidly on grazed plots than on ungrazed plots.

Moisture contents of different species of range plants growing under generally similar conditions are closely related during the period of peak herbage development. From regression equations that express those relationships, moisture content of several species can be predicted within reasonable limits from the content of one or more associated species.