Kentucky bluegrass invaded rangeland response to climate extremes and potential land management adjustments

Authors: Toledo, David; Hendrickson, John; Kobilansky, Chantel; Carrlson, Andrew

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/6/2023
Publication Date: 1/6/2023
Citation: Toledo, D.N., Hendrickson, J.R., Kobilansky, C.L., Carrlson, A.J. 2023. Kentucky bluegrass invaded rangeland response to climate extremes and potential land management adjustments. Meeting Abstract. 1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Historically, grasslands in the northern Great Plains have been highly diverse and productive. This diversity and productivity contribute to forage quality for livestock and habitat quality for multiple wildlife species. The past few decades have seen changes in climate that have contributed to non-native cool season grass expansion, changes in native plant community composition, and changes in grassland productivity, which threaten the structure and function of these grasslands. Climate and plant community composition changes in these grasslands have, at times, benefited the agricultural industry, making proactive management to reduce invasion challenging. However, as bluegrass invasion in these landscapes continues to occur, these landscapes become less diverse and more susceptible to loss of function during extreme weather events. Current weather predictions suggest variable climate and more climate extremes. How will Kentucky bluegrass invaded rangelands react to climate extremes and how can land management be adjusted to account for changes in climate? We report on a 5-year drought experiment established in 2016 near Mandan, ND to determine long-term drought effects on plant community composition in bluegrass-invaded rangelands, and also report on a ongoing experiment aimed at testing the effects of alternative land management practices (e.g. multi-species grazing, mob grazing, prescribed fire) on bluegrass invaded rangelands. Our results suggest that changes in climate may contribute to decreases in Kentucky bluegrass and increased plant heterogeneity in rangelands. We show how alternative management practices can contribute to increased ecosystem heterogeneity and resilience.