Herbage Production following Litter Removal on Alberta Native Grasslands

Willms, Walter D.; Smoliak, S.; Bailey, Arthur W.

doi:10.2307/3898766

Cited by 103 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…2 suggests that low amounts of litter benefit production, large amounts are a detriment to production, and production is greatest at intermediate amounts. Willms et al (1986) also noted increased total standing crop in Fescue Prairie after litter removal, and litter inhibits production in Tallgrass Prairie (Knapp and Seastedt 1986).…”

Section: Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…water available for plant growth especially in xeric Northern Mixed Prairie (Willms et al 1986(Willms et al , 1993. Herbage production increased slightly with litter removal in Fescue Prairie but reductions in production occurred in Mixed Prairie (Willms et al 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Herbage production increased slightly with litter removal in Fescue Prairie but reductions in production occurred in Mixed Prairie (Willms et al 1986). Climatic effects, particularly the amount of precipitation, also strongly influence primary productivity of Northern Mixed Prairie (Smoliak 1986) and Fescue Prairie (Bork et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Litter insulates the soil against incident solar radiation (Rauzi 1960, Willms et al 1986 thereby reducing evaporation (Weaver andRowland 1952, Hopkins 1954) and increasing soil water. Litter also insulates the soil, creating cooler temperatures in summer and warmer temperatures in winter (Johnston et al 1971).…”

Section: Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Litter also insulates the soil, creating cooler temperatures in summer and warmer temperatures in winter (Johnston et al 1971). Burning removes litter which in turn causes cascading effects of reduced soil water, increased plant water stress, and reduced production in Fescue Prairie (Redmann 1978, Grilz and Romo 1994 Production in drier parts of the Northern Mixed Prairie is associated with amounts of litter; production is maximized with maximum amounts of litter (Willms et al 1986(Willms et al , 1993. Dix (1960) also concluded that litter does not inhibit production in Northern Mixed Prairie.…”

Section: Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long-term effects of burning Festuca and Stipa-Agropyron grasslands

Pylypec¹,

Romo²

2003

REM

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The effects of early spring burning on current year standing crop, litter, and total standing crop (current year standing crop plus litter) were examined in Festuca-and Stipa-Agropyron-dominated communities in central Saskatchewan over an 11-year period in a paired design with burned sites compared to adjacent control sites that were not burned. In Festuca communities current year standing crop was reduced in the first and third years (P = 0.010) after burning. Burning Stipa-Agropyron-communities tended to reduce current year standing crop, but the differences were not significant (P < 0.050) compared to control. Increasing precipitation stimulated current year standing crop after burning Festuca (P < 0.001, r2 = 0.33) and Stipa-Agropyron (P < 0.001, r2 = 0.55) communities. Litter and current year standing crop were correlated (R2 = 0.24, P = 0.002) for Festuca indicating beneficial and detrimental effects of litter on production at low and high amounts, respectively. Litter and current year standing crop were not correlated (P = 0.964) for Stipa-Agropyron. In both communities total standing crop increased until about the eighth year after burning while the mass of litter appeared to reach a plateau around 11 years. Litter alters the microenvironment of grasslands and affects productivity (Willms 1988, Facelli andPickett 1991). Whereas excessive litter reduces productivity in Tallgrass Prairie (Vogl 1974, Boemer 1982, litter has positive effects on herbage production apparently by reducing evaporation and making more Manuscript accepted 11 Mar. 03. ResumenSe examinaron los efectos de la quema a inicios de primavera sobre la cosecha en pie actual, mantillo y cosecha en pie total (cosecha en pie del ano actual + mantillo) de comunidades de Festuca y comunidades dominadas por Stipa-Agropyron situadas en la region central de Saskatchewan. El estudio se llevo a cabo en un periodo de 11 anos en un diseno apareado con sitios quemados adyacentes a sitios control que no fueron quemados. En las comunidades de Festuca la cosecha en pie actual se redujo en el primer y tercer anos (P = 0.010) despues de la quema. La quema de comunidades de Stipa-Agropyron tendio a reducir la cosecha en pie del ano actual, pero las diferencias no fueron significativas (P < 0.050) en comparacion con el control. El aumento en la precipitacion estimulo la cosecha en pie del presente ano despues de la quema en las comunidades de Festuca (P < 0.001, r2 = 0.33) y Stipa-Agropyron (P < 0.001, r2=0.55). El mantillo y la cosecha en pie actual estuvieron correlacionadas (R2 = 0.24, P = 0.002) en la comunidad de Festuca, indicando efectos beneficos y detrimentales del mantillo en la production en cantidades bajas y altas respectivamente. El mantillo y la cosecha en pie actual no estuvieron correlacionadas (P = 0.964) en la comunidad de StipaAgropyron. En ambas comunidades la cosecha en pie total se incremento hasta aproximadamente el octavo ano despues de la quema mientras que la masa de mantillo parecio alcanzar su maximo nivel alrededor de los ...

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Section: Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long-term effects of burning Festuca and Stipa-Agropyron grasslands

Pylypec¹,

Romo²

2003

REM

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Mixedgrass vegetation is tolerant to a short‐term but not season‐long access mat use during mitigation of industrial traffic

et al. 2022

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Grasslands are impacted by many disturbances, including energy development. While temporary working platforms using access mats to support large equipment can minimize soil disturbance, less is known about matting impacts on grassland vegetation.We assessed heavy traffic effects on sandy and loamy Mixedgrass Prairie in southeast Alberta, Canada, where traffic occurred in 2015 either directly on grassland or on temporary matting. Vegetation was assessed in 2016 and 2017. Treatments varied in type (with/without matting), timing (spring vs. fall vs. season-long) and duration (6 vs. 12 weeks, and 24 weeks for season-long) of occurrence. While grass biomass was unaffected by direct wheeled traffic, native forb biomass declined, particularly during the first growing season; 1 year later, plots with prior long-term matting had more native forbs. Where traffic occurred on mats, grass biomass decreased when mats were placed for 6 or 12 weeks in spring, or for the entire growing season. Longer mat use also increased introduced forbs, which were positively associated with soil nitrogen supply rates. Plant biomass changes from matting (less grass, more introduced forbs) were more apparent in loamy-sand than loam soils. Overall, while direct traffic had limited impacts on vegetation, matting was more likely to alter vegetation, particularly when placed in spring or for longer periods, and further varied with ecosite type and the timing of traffic disturbance. We recommend that access mats be limited to placement for short periods (≤12 weeks), preferably in falling, to conserve mixedgrass prairie, while longer placement intervals be avoided.

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Effects of grazing on aLeymus chinensisgrassland on the Songnen plain of north-eastern China

Wang

Ripley

1997

Journal of Arid Environments

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Herbage Production following Litter Removal on Alberta Native Grasslands

Cited by 103 publications

References 17 publications

Long-term effects of burning Festuca and Stipa-Agropyron grasslands

Long-term effects of burning Festuca and Stipa-Agropyron grasslands

Mixedgrass vegetation is tolerant to a short‐term but not season‐long access mat use during mitigation of industrial traffic

Effects of grazing on aLeymus chinensisgrassland on the Songnen plain of north-eastern China

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