Sensitivity of Different Grass Functional Groups to Honey Mesquite Encroachment: Toward Developing a Multiyear Model

Ansley, R. James; Zhang, Tian; Murray, Bryan D.

doi:10.1016/j.rama.2023.04.004

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…An earlier study in the north Texas portion of the SGP found that Buchloe was common in heavily grazed pastures, while C 4 mid-grasses dominated ungrazed exclosures and moderately grazed pastures [4]. Whether Buchloe displaced C 4 mid-grasses during the process of Prosopis encroachment is not known, but likely occurred [6,63].…”

Section: Responses In Buchloe Patchesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Stability of C3 and C4 Grass Patches in Woody Encroached Rangeland after Fire and Simulated Grazing

Ansley,

Pinchak

2023

Diversity

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As the woody legume, Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) has encroached into grasslands and rangelands in the southern Great Plains, USA, two grass species, C4 shortgrass, Buchloe dactyloides (buffalograss), and C3 mid-grass, Nassella leucotricha (Texas wintergrass), have increased in dominance. Occurrence of more productive C4 mid-grasses and herbaceous diversity have declined. We measured effects of various combinations of spring clipping (to simulate cattle grazing) and summer and/or winter fire treatments on the stability of monoculture patches of these two grass species over an eight-year period, with the goal of reducing Nassella and increasing C4 mid-grass cover. All fire treatments top-killed most Prosopis trees that subsequently resprouted. Buchloe cover declined in the No Clip + No Fire treatment but remained intact with clipping and/or fire. Frequent clipping reduced Nassella cover across all fire treatments. Buchloe encroachment into Nassella patches was greatest in the Clip + Alternate Season fire treatment. C4 mid-grass cover increased to 15–25% in Nassella patches in several fire-only or Clip + Fire treatments; greatest gains were observed in treatments that included summer fire. In contrast, C4 mid-grass gains were lower in Buchloe patches. These results suggest that C4 mid-grass restoration was linked with treatments that reduced Nassella cover.

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Section: Responses In Buchloe Patchesmentioning

confidence: 98%