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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Reno, Nevada » Great Basin Rangelands Research » Research » Research Project #427138

Research Project: Reducing Bromus Tectorum Fuel Loads with Fall Grazing

Location: Great Basin Rangelands Research

Project Number: 2060-13610-003-004-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 10, 2014
End Date: Sep 9, 2019

Objective:
The primary purpose is to construct the scientific foundation for documenting what is known and what is not known about the environmental effects of livestock grazing to reduce fuel loads on sites dominated by Bromus tectorum. The University of Nevada Reno is undertaking a cooperative project with the Agricultural Research Service (Reno NV and Burns OR), and Newmont Mining Corporation to quantify if fall livestock grazing can be effective in reducing fuel loads. Specifically the project will: 1) quantify the reduction in standing biomass, plant density, and connectivity of litter as a result of fall grazing; 2) quantify the impact of fall grazing on establishment of native vegetation; and 3) and improve the understanding of revegetation practices as a means to reduce wind erosion and transport of entrained soil particles that impact air quality on Great Basin rangelands.

Approach:
The University of Nevada at Reno will assist the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in conducting a fall grazing study to quantify reductions in fuel loads on cheatgrass dominated Great Basin rangelands. The study will quantify animal performance, germination and establishment of desired plants in paddocks grazed by cattle in the fall. The study will quantify changes in standing biomass, plant density, and connectivity of litter as result of fall grazing.