Prescribed Fire,Grazing, and Herbaceous Plant Production in Shortgrass Steppe |
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| Authors: | David J. Augustine Justin D. Derner Daniel G. Milchunas |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Research Ecologist, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA–ARS), Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;2. Rangeland Scientist, USDA-ARS, Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Cheyenne, WY 82009, USA;3. Research Scientist, Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship Department and Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA;1. Agricultural Science Research Technician, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Cheyenne, WY 82001, USA;2. Ecologist, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT 59301, USA;3. Nutritionist, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT 59301, USA;4. Assistant Professor, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA;1. Research Ecologist, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)?Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;2. Rangeland Scientist and Research Leader, USDA-ARS Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Cheyenne, WY 82009, USA;3. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;1. Ecologist, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT 59301, USA;2. Policy Analyst, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Policy, Cheyenne, WY 82002, USA;3. Professor, Animal, Rangeland, and Wildlife Sciences Department, and Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kleberg Agricultural Building, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA.;1. Graduate Research Assistant, Animal Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102, USA;2. Associate Professor, Animal Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102, USA;3. Professor, School of Natural Resource Sciences, Animal Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102, USA;4. Associate Professor, Animal Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102, USA.;1. Ecologist, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT 59301, USA;2. Assistant Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, San Angelo, TX 76901, USA |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
We examined the independent and combined effects of prescribed fire and livestock grazing on herbaceous plant production in shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado in the North American Great Plains. Burning was implemented in March, before the onset of the growing season. During the first postburn growing season, burning had no influence on soil moisture, nor did it affect soil nitrogen (N) availability in spring (April–May), but it significantly enhanced soil N availability in summer (June–July). Burning had no influence on herbaceous plant production in the first postburn growing season but enhanced in vitro dry matter digestibility of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis [Willd. ex Kunth] Lag. ex Griffiths) forage sampled in late May. For the second postburn growing season, we found no difference in herbaceous plant production between sites that were burned and grazed in the previous year versus sites that were burned and protected from grazing in the previous year. Our results provide further evidence that prescribed burns conducted in late winter in dormant vegetation can have neutral or positive consequences for livestock production because of a neutral effect on forage quantity and a short-term enhancement of forage quality. In addition, our results indicate that with conservative stocking rates, deferment of grazing during the first postburn growing season may not be necessary to sustain plant productivity. |
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