Herbage Production Following Tree and Shrub Removal in the Pinyon-Juniper Type of Arizona

Abstract

Herbage production was evaluated after overstory removal from different sites within the pinyon-juniper type. Average annual production varied from 43 to 643 kg/ha before treatment and 715 to 3,703 kg/ha after treatment. Production variation among sites was related to annual precipitation, pretreatment tree canopy, pretreatment nitrate-nitrogen, and presence or absence of limestone soils. Grasses increased in the composition from 46 to 73% on the average, while forbs decreased from 21 to 19%, and half-shrubs and shrubs decreased from 33 to 8%.