Grazing date and frequency effects on prairie sandreed and sand bluestem
Issue Date
1996-03-01Keywords
etiolationgrazing date
organic matter
Calamovilfa longifolia
Andropogon hallii
frequency
rain
stocking rate
Nebraska
rotational grazing
grazing intensity
grazing
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Reece, P. E., Brummer, J. E., Engel, R. K., Northup, B. K., & Nichols, J. T. (1996). Grazing date and frequency effects on prairie sandreed and sand bluestem. Journal of Range Management, 49(2), 112-116.Publisher
Society for Range ManagementJournal
Journal of Range ManagementDOI
10.2307/4002678Additional Links
https://rangelands.org/Abstract
A 5 year study was conducted during 1988-1992 to quantify the effects of grazing date and frequency on total organic reserves of prairie sandreed [Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scribn.] and sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii Hack.). Treatments consisted of mid-month grazing periods in (1) June, (2) July, (3) August, (4) October, (5) June and July, (6) June and August, (7) July and August, or (8) June, July, and August. Seasonal stocking rates were equal among treatments and divided equally over multiple grazing periods. Grazing treatments were applied to the same pastures during 4 consecutive years with yearling cattle and 4-7 day grazing periods. Mean tiller weight of etiolated initial-spring growth was used to estimate total organic reserves in the fifth year. Dormant season grazing in October was not different from 4 years of rest for either species. Total organic reserves in prairie sandreed decreased when paddocks were grazed in June or July regardless of the number of grazing periods per treatment. Reserves in sand bluestem were maintained by grazing once in June or August. Rotationally grazing pastures 2 or more times during June-August is least likely to maintain or increase total organic reserves in either species. Multiple grazing periods initiated in June reduced reserves by about 38% in prairie sandreed and 30% in sand bluestem. When stocking rates are similar to this study, deferment periods should be longer than 60 days after grazing in June to avoid measurable reductions in total organic reserves in both species. Periodic deferment of grazing until mid-August or later will be required to maintain simultaneously high levels of reserves in prairie sandreed and sand bluestem.Type
textArticle
Language
enISSN
0022-409Xae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.2307/4002678
Scopus Count
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