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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #405689
Research Project: Sustainable Agricultural Systems for the Northern Great Plains

Location: Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory

Title: Drought and fire effects on plant species composition in a Kentucky bluegrass Invaded northern Great Plains rangeland

Author
item Toledo, David
item Hendrickson, John
item Kobilansky, Chantel
item Carrlson, Andrew

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/24/2023
Publication Date: 2/24/2023
Citation: Toledo, D.N., Hendrickson, J.R., Kobilansky, C.L., Carrlson, A.J. 2023. Drought and fire effects on plant species composition in a Kentucky bluegrass Invaded northern Great Plains rangeland. Meeting Abstract. 1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), an invasive perennial cool-season grass, has become dominant across large extents of the northern Great Plains. There is limited information regarding impacts of long-term drought and fire on Kentucky bluegrass invaded plant communities. We report on a 5-year experiment established in 2016 near Mandan, ND to determine long-term drought and prescribed fire effects on plant community composition in bluegrass invaded rangelands. We report on results from vegetation measurements taken yearly since 2016. Results suggest that prolonged drought and fire in this grassland system can alter the trajectory of invasion of Kentucky bluegrass while affecting both above and belowground productivity.