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Title: LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL RENOVATION OF A MIXED-GRASS PRAIRIE: I. PLANT RESPONSE

Author
item MIYAMOTA, D - USDA-NRCS
item OLSON, R - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item Schuman, Gerald

Submitted to: Arid Land Research and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/21/2003
Publication Date: 5/1/2004
Citation: Miyamota, D.L., Olson, R.A., Schuman, G.E. 2004. Long-term effects of mechanical renovation of a mixed-grass prairie: i. plant response. Arid Land Research and Management. 18:93-101.

Interpretive Summary: Mechanical renovation of Great Plains rangelands has been shown to be effective in increasing forage production. In 1979, a study was initiated on a northern mixed-grass prairie of southeastern Wyoming to determine the effects of rangeland ripping (single and double) on forage production. These treatments were found to increase forage production over the 4-year (1979-1982) study period. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the long-term effects of these mechanical rangeland renovation practices on forage production. Twenty years later, the single and double ripping treatment continued to produce greater production than the untreated plots; however, the forage production on the double ripped treatment was not statistically different than the untreated plots. Needle-and-thread grass (Stipa comata) and western wheatgrass (Pascopyron smithii) were dominant on both treatments in 1999 and 2000. Ripping provided long-term increased forage production on this northern mixed-grass rangeland by shifting plant species composition from a community dominated by warm-season grasses to one dominated by cool-season grasses. This study demonstrates that the effective longevity of these mechanical renovation treatments is at least 20 years and are likely to be effective the 25-30 years predicted earlier by scientists. The effective longevity of these treatments make them economically practical as a range renovation practice where climate and plant community attributes are appropriate.

Technical Abstract: In 1979, a study was initiated on the northern mixed-grass prairie of southeastern Wyoming to determine the effects of mechanical rangeland renovation (ripping, double ripping and contour furrowing) on forage production for livestock grazing. These mechanical treatments enhanced initial forage production and increased livestock carrying capacities. In 1999 and 2000, the original study plot was re-evaluated to determine long-term (20 years) effects of ripping and double ripping on plant species composition and aboveground production. In 1999, plant production in the single ripped treatment was significantly (P=0.01) greater (1722 kg ha-1) compared to the control (1319 kg ha-1). In 2000, plant production in the single ripped treatment (878 kg ha-1) was significantly (P=0.06) greater than the control (516 kg ha-1). In 1999 and 2000, plant production in the double ripped treatment was not significantly different than the control (2302 and 2180 kg ha-1, and 1372 and 1192, respectively). Needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) was the dominant plant species in both treatments in 1999 and 2000, comprising 50% of total forage production. Ripping provided long-term increased forage production on northern mixed-grass prairie by shifting the plant species composition from a plant community dominated by warm-season grasses to one dominated by cool-season grasses.