Floral Changes following Mechanical Brush Removal in Central Texas

Rollins, Dale; Bryant, Fred C.

doi:10.2307/3899057

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Greater canopy cover of herbaceous vegetation 16 to 18 years after root plowing was similar to the short-term observations of Drawe (1977) on the Texas coastal prairies. Double chaining and raking in south Texas (Scifres et al 1976) and double chaining in central Texas (Rollins and Bryant 1986) also resulted in increased herbaceous coverage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Effects of Root Plowing on Vegetation in the Eastern South Texas Plains

Ruthven¹,

Fulbright²,

Beasom³

et al. 1993

Journal of Range Management

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The long-term effects of root plowing ln plant communities in south Texas are not clearly understood. Our objective was to compare plant species composition and diversity on root-plowed rangelands and untreated rangelands. Two rangeland sites that were root plowed during 1973-74 and 2 sites of native, untreated brush were selected on the Santa Gertrudis Division of the King Ranch, Kleberg and Jim Wells counties, Texas. Woody plant canopy cover was estimated with the line intercept method, and density was estimated with 20-x l-m plots during 1990. Herbaceous canopy cover was estimated with 20 x 50-cm quadrats. Percent grass, litter, and bare ground coverage were similar on root-plowed and untreated rangelands. Woody plant species and diversity averaged 19 f 2 species/ treatment (Z f SE) and 2.56 f 0.15 on untreated areas compared to 7 f 1 species/treatment and 1.18 f 0.01 on root-plowed areas. Forb canopy coverage on root-plowed sites was about twice that of untreated sites. Huisache (Acucia smalfZIlsey) canopy cover and density were both more than 'I-fold greater on root-plowed sites than on untreated sites. Browse species preferred by white-tailed deer (OdocoiZeus virginianus Raf.), such as colima [Zanttroxylumfirgora (L.) Sarg.] and guajillo (Acucia berlandieri Benth.), were absent on root-plowed sites.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Effects of Root Plowing on Vegetation in the Eastern South Texas Plains

Ruthven¹,

Fulbright²,

Beasom³

et al. 1993

Journal of Range Management

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“…An increase in forbs is a desired effect of mechanical treatments, yet response of herbaceous vegetation to mechanical brush management treatments may depend on precipitation (Waid et al 1984, Rollins and Bryant 1986, Bozzo et al 1992a. Weather patterns in South Texas are highly unpredictable with highly variable rainfall amounts between locations and frequent periods of short -term drought (Norwine and Bingham 1985).…”

Section: Conclusion and Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation Response of a Mesquite-Mixed Brush Community to Aeration

Ruthven¹,

Krakauer²

2004

Journal of Range Management

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Responses of plant communities to mechanical treatments such as aeration on semiarid rangelands are not clearly understood. Our objective was to compare woody and herbaceous plant cover, density, and diversity on aerated and nontreated rangelands. Five rangeland sites that were aerated with a double /tandem drum aerator during summer 1998 and 5 sites of nontreated rangeland were selected for study on the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, La Salle County, Tex. Woody plant cover was estimated using the line-intercept method, and stem density was estimated in 30 x 1.5 m plots in 1999 and 2000. Forb and grass cover and density were estimated in 20 x 50 cm quadrats during spring and fall 1999. Woody and herbaceous plant diversity did not differ between treatments. On aerated sites percent woody plant cover was 4-fold less 1-year after aeration and increased 89% from the first to the second growing-season post treatment. Canopy cover of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.), twisted acacia (Acacia schaffneri S. Wats.), and Texas pricklypear (Opuntia lindheimeri Engelm.) was greater on nontreated sites. By the second growing season after aeration, density of honey mesquite was greater on aerated sites, whereas Texas pricklypear had declined on aerated sites. Density of spiny hackberry (Celtis pallida Torr.) and Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana Scheele) was greater on aerated sites during the first growing-season post treatment. Cover and stem density of hog-plum (Colubrina texana T. & G.), coma (Bumelia celastrina Kunth), and whitebrush [Aloysia gratissima (Gill. & Hook.

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