Relationship of Range Quality to Range Condition in the Chilcotin Region, British Columbia

Abstract

Bluebunch wheatgrass and needleandthread plants were clipped from three different condition classes and six different growing periods in a wheatgrass/bluegrass association. The collected samples were chemically analyzed for crude protein, total ash, calcium, and phosphorous. The results were tested against the condition classes. There were no statistical differences for the components in needleandthread; however, bluebunch wheatgrass showed highly significant differences in the crude protein levels of ungrazed and overgrazed plants. It was also determined that even though the overgrazed wheatgrass had the highest percentage protein, the total weight of protein per unit area was much greater in ungrazed wheatgrass plants.