Evaluation of Pinyon-Juniper Conversion to Grassland

Abstract

Conversion techniques applied to public lands in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico provided the basis for an evaluation of several methods. Burning was the most effective and the least expensive method studied. Dozing of trees into windrows, followed by seeding of grasses in the cleared areas, was the best mechanical approach examined, but requires careful site selection and economic evaluation. Chaining was the most widely used, but the least effective technique for converting pinyon-juniper woodland to grassland.