Response of True Prairie Vegetation on Major Flint Hills Range Sites to Grazing Treatment

Herbel, Carlton H.; Anderson, Kling L.

doi:10.2307/1942202

Cited by 34 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Preferential grazing by ungulates is a major factor inducing shifts in rangeland plant communities (Weaver andDarland 1948, Herbel andAnderson 1959). Although bison and cattle have a high degree of similarity Note: Frequency is based on occurrence in 10-m 2 plots; n ϭ 80 plots for bison and cattle, and n ϭ 40 plots for ungrazed prairie.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation Trends in Tallgrass Prairie From Bison and Cattle Grazing

Towne

Hartnett

Cochran

2005

Ecological Applications

149

161

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Comparisons between how bison and cattle grazing affect the plant community are understood poorly because of confounding differences in how the herbivores are typically managed. This 10-year study compared vegetation changes in Kansas (USA) tallgrass prairie that was burned and grazed season-long at a moderate stocking rate by either bison or cattle. We held management practices constant between the herbivores and equalized grazing pressure by matching animals so that the total body mass in all pastures was similar each year. Trends in species cover and diversity indices in the bison and cattle pastures were compared with ungrazed prairie that also was burned annually. We found that little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) cover decreased over time in bison pastures, and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) cover increased over time in cattle pastures. Grazing by either herbivore increased the canopy cover of annual forbs, perennial forbs, and cool-season graminoids, but both annual and perennial forb cover increased at a greater rate in bison pastures than in cattle pastures. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) and heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) were primarily responsible for the increased forb cover in grazed pastures. Species richness at both small (10 m 2 ) and large (200 m 2 ) spatial scales increased at a greater rate in bison pastures than in cattle pastures, but richness did not change through time in ungrazed prairie. The number of annual forb species was significantly higher in bison pastures than in pastures grazed by cattle. Residual graminoid biomass at the end of the grazing season was lower in bison pastures than in cattle pastures, whereas forb residuum increased over time at a greater rate in pastures grazed by bison than in pastures grazed by cattle. Although bison and cattle differentially altered some vegetation components, the plant communities in bison and cattle pastures were 85% similar after 10 years of grazing. We conclude that most measurable differences between bisongrazed and cattle-grazed pastures in tallgrass prairie are relatively minor, and differences in how the herbivores are typically managed may play a larger role in their impact on prairie vegetation than differences between the species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation Trends in Tallgrass Prairie From Bison and Cattle Grazing

Towne

Hartnett

Cochran

2005

Ecological Applications

149

161

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“…Virtually all unplowed prairie has been grazed by cattle for most or all of the last 100 years (Owensby et al, 1973), except that small acreages have been cut for native hay. Different grazing pressures among range sites, such as reported by Herbel and Anderson (1959), may affect rates of invasion.…”

Section: Description and History Of Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Woody Plant Invasion of Unburned Kansas Bluestem Prairie

Bragg¹,

Hulbert²

1976

Journal of Range Management

259

145

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Highlight:Postsettlement invasion of trees and shrubs on the bluestem prairie of Geary County in the Kansas Flint Hills was assessed using aerial photos, General Land Office survey data, and field observations. Tree cover increased 8% from 1856 to 1969 throughout the county, although on regularly burned sites combined tree and shrub cover was effectively maintained at presettlement amounts. On unburned sites, aerial photographs showed that combined tree and shrub cover increased 34% from 1937 to 1969; section-line data showed that tree cover alone increased 24% from 1856 to 1969. Data from two sites suggested that herbicide spraying only slowed the invasion rate. Woody plants increased only slightly on shallow, droughty clay loam soils located on level uplands, ridgetops, and upper slopes. On deeper and more permeable middle-and lower-slope soils, woody plants increased more than 40% from 193740% from to 196940% from . In 1937by 1950 they had increased to 89%; change was slight thereafter. The increase in coverage of the lowland soils from 1856 to 1937 suggests that these soils are rapidly invaded. We conclude that on the Flint Hills bluestem prairie rangeland, (1) burning has been effective in restricting woody plants to natural, presettlemen t amounts and (2)-soil type and topography affect the rate of woody-plant invasion.

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“…Little bluestem ( Andropogon scoparius), big bluestem (A. gerardi), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), indiangrass ( S orghastrum nutans), and 'switchgrass ( P anicum virgatum) are the dominant species of grass in this prairie region of Kansas (Herbel and Anderson 1959). Along streams and lowlands, trees and shrubs are dominant plants (Weaver and Fitzpatrick 1934).…”

Section: The Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Caloric Values of Seeds From Four Range Sites in Northeastern Kansas

Johnson¹,

Robel²

1968

Ecology

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Important in the bioenergetics of granivores is the difference in energy content of seeds from plants grown on different areas within the organism's normal environment. To determine possible differences in energy content, seeds of nine species of plants (Solanum rostratum, Helianthus annuus, Rhus aromatica, R. glabra, Ambrosia trifida, Cornus drummondi, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, Setaria lutescens, and Bromus japonicus) were collected from four distinct range sites. No differences were detected (except for Rhus aromatica) between mean energy content of seeds from the four sites. However, significant intraspecific differences (P < 0.05) were noted between means of energy content of seeds from different locations within the same range site.

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Response of True Prairie Vegetation on Major Flint Hills Range Sites to Grazing Treatment

Abstract: MATERIALS AND METHODS. Experimental Area Grazing Treatments. Sampling Methods ExPERIMENTAL RESULTS.

Cited by 34 publications

References 12 publications

Vegetation Trends in Tallgrass Prairie From Bison and Cattle Grazing

Vegetation Trends in Tallgrass Prairie From Bison and Cattle Grazing

Woody Plant Invasion of Unburned Kansas Bluestem Prairie

Caloric Values of Seeds From Four Range Sites in Northeastern Kansas

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