The Fescue Grassland of Alberta

Weathering losses of forage species on the fescue grassland in southwestern Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci. 78: 265-272. Rough fescue grasslands are readily damaged by heavy grazing pressure in the summer but tolerate grazing in winter. The grasslands have physical and nutritive properties that make them suitable for winter grazing by cattle thereby reducing the cost of winter feeding while preserving the integrity of the grasslands. However, their forage value declines during winter through the degradation of biomass yield and quality. This study took place at the Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Range Research Substation located on the Porcupine Hills in southwest Alberta. The objectives of this study were to determine the dynamics of litter biomass for important forage species over winter, to examine the role of leaf position in the plant on biomass loss from leaves, and to determine the associated changes in crude protein, phosphorus, and acid detergent fibre of the leaves, and carbon and nitrogen. Leaves of Parry oat grass (Danthonia parryi Scribn.), Idaho fescue (F. idahoensis Elmer), and rough fescue (F. campestris Rydb.) were sampled at monthly intervals from August to March over 3 yr to determine weight and chemical composition. Decomposition of these species, together with smooth aster (Aster laevis L.), was also tested for decomposition in the litter mass using nylon bags. Degradation of standing litter was most rapid in late summer and tended to decline toward stability by December. Biomass losses in leaves from August to March were similar (P > 0.05) among grass species. Overwinter losses in the litter mass tended to be greatest for smooth aster. Changes in the mineral and fibre concentrations of the herbage were typical of the trends expected for the period, that included late senescence and weathering, and followed closely the losses of biomass for the period. Forage decomposition is an important ecological process in mineral cycling and affects the quantity and quality of forage available for delayed grazing. Il reste que leur valeur fourragère baisse durant l'hiver, à la fois en quantité qu'en qualité. Nos expériences avaient lieu à la Sous-station de recherches sur les parcours (ministère de l'Agriculture et de l'Agroalimentaire du Canada) dans les Porcupine Hills au sud-ouest de l'Alberta. Nos objectifs étaient d'établir la dynamique de la formation de la litière à partir des espèces fourragères importantes durant l'hiver, d'examiner le rôle de la position des feuilles sur la tige sur les pertes de biomasse foliaire et d'élucider les modifications concomittantes des teneurs en protéine brute, en P et en lignocellulose des feuilles ainsi que celle du bilan du carbone et de l'azote. Les feuilles de la danthonie de Parry (Danthonia parryi Scribn.), de la fétuque de l'Idaho (F. idahoensis Elmer) et de la fétuque rude (F. campestris Rydb.) étaient prélevées tous les mois à partir d'août jusqu'en mars pendant 3 ans, pour en mesurer le poids et la composition chimique. La décomposition de ces espèces ain...

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“…The grassland vegetation is representative of the Rough Fescue Association described by Moss and Campbell (1947).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weathering losses of forage species on the fescue grassland in southwestern Alberta

Willms¹,

King²,

Dormaar³

1998

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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“…The site is within the Foothills Fescue subregion (Strong and Leggat 1992). Moss (1944) and Moss and Campbell (1947) described the vegetation of the Rough Fescue Association at the study site. Parry oat grass (Danthonia parryi Scribn.)…”

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Standing Litter on Rough Fescue Utilization by Cattle

Moisey

Willms

Bork

2006

REM

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Fescue grasslands are well suited to dormant-season grazing, whereas spring defoliation is detrimental to rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb.). Dormant-season grazing may also condition fescue plants for subsequent selection in spring by removing standing litter (i.e., senesced biomass). This relationship must be understood in order to manage grazing and conserve rough fescue. This study determined the effects of standing litter on plant selection and utilization by cattle in spring. Forty dormant rough fescue plants were conditioned in fall by removing standing litter in a 4 (treatments) 3 10 (blocks) randomized complete block design. This design was repeated with the use of 2 separately grazed paddocks. Treatments were a control (no litter removal) and standing litter removed at 14-, 7-, and 2.5-cm stubble height. Nonparametric plant selection data were analyzed with the use of v 2 methods. Spring biomass utilization was estimated nondestructively through height-weight modeling techniques, and data were analyzed with the use of analysis-of-variance procedures. The stubble height of standing litter affected (P , 0.05) plant selection by cattle in the first 2 days of the trial when grazing pressure was light. By the end of the 6-d grazing period 96% of fescue plants were selected at least once. Additionally, 18% of plants were regrazed at least once after 3 days, and 48% after 6 days. Thus, the protective barrier effect of standing litter had limited effect on plant selection by cattle except when grazing pressure was light. However, the degree of spring biomass utilization increased with shorter stubble heights. After 6 days of grazing, the current growth of plants with standing litter removed at 2.5 cm was utilized at 64%, and control plants were utilized 9%. Therefore, at high grazing pressure the mass of standing litter influenced the degree of utilization, suggesting litter retention is important in limiting grazing impacts on rough fescue. ResumenLos pastizales de ''Fescue'' están bien adaptados al apacentamiento en la época de dormancia, mientras que la defoliació n en primavera es perjudicial para el ''Rough fescue'' (Festuca campestris Rydb.). El apacentamiento en durante la dormancia también puede acondicionar las plantas para la selecció n subsecuente en primavera al remover el mantillo en pie (i.e., la biomasa senescente); esta relació n debe ser entendida para manejar el apacentamiento y conservar el ''Rough fescue.'' Este estudio determinó los efectos del matillo en pie en la selecció n y utilizació n de las plantas por el ganado en la primavera. Cuarenta plantas de ''Rough fescue'' fueron acondicionadas en otoñ o removiendo el mantillo en pie de ellas y se asignaron a 4 tratamientos en 10 bloques bajo un diseñ o de bloques completos al azar. Los tratamientos fueron: control (sin remoció n del mantillo) y remoció n del mantillo en pie a 14, 7 y 2.5 cm de altura del rastrojo remanente, este diseñ o se repitió usando separadamente dos potreros apacentados. Los datos noparamétricos de la se...

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“…dominates the Fescue Grassland (11), a seventh association of the North American Grassland Formation (6). The species is an efratic seed-setter; sevelal years may elapse without aPPleciable seed set in a district.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%