Spring Precipitation as a Predictor for Peak Standing Crop of Mixed-Grass Prairie

Ranchers and range managers need a decision support tool that provides a reasonably accurate prediction of forage growth potential early in the season to help users make destocking decisions. Erroneous stocking rate decisions can have dire economic and environmental consequences, particularly when forage production is low. Predictions must be based on information that is easily obtained and relevant to the particular range. Our goal was to evaluate monthly precipitation in spring months as a potential predictor of forage production compared to annual and growing-season precipitation. We analyzed the relationships between grazed and ungrazed peak standing crop (PSC) and precipitation using nonlinear regression and a plateau model, Akaike’s information criterion for model selection, and data from three locations: Streeter, North Dakota; Miles City, Montana; and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The plateau model included a linear segment, representing precipitation limiting production, and a plateau, an estimate of average production when precipitation is no longer the limiting factor. Both the response and predictor variables were rescaled so variability in production from average production was related to variability in precipitation from the long-term average. We found that grazing did not affect the relationship between PSC and precipitation, nor were annual or growing-season precipitation good predictor variables. The best predictor variable was total precipitation in April and May for Montana, May and June for North Dakota, and April, May, and June for Wyoming, with r² ranging from 0.74 to 0.79 for precipitation less than long-term average. These results indicate that spring precipitation provides useful information for destocking decisions and can potentially be used to develop a decision support tool, and the results will guide our choice of possible predictor models for the tool.     

Patch-Burning Buffers Forage Resources and Livestock Performance to Mitigate Drought in the Northern Great Plains

Summer droughts in North America's northern Great Plains are expected to increase in frequency and duration as precipitation shifts toward spring and fall. Two rangeland experimental stations in North Dakota experienced drought in 2017 relative to 25-year averages. The southwest location had a 170-mm deficit from the 360-mm normal rainfall and was grazed by cattle (Bos taurus L.) and sheep (Ovis aries L.); the south-central location had 109 mm below the 403-mm normal rainfall and was grazed by cattle. We evaluated patch-burn grazing as a drought resilient land management strategy in the northern Great Plains by comparing average daily gains, fecal density, available forage biomass, and forage crude protein content. At the southwest location, livestock performed better during the drought season compared with animals on the same pastures in the previous year, which had near-normal rainfall but no fire. At the central location, cows on patch-burned pastures performed better than cows on continuously-grazed, unburned pastures in the same year under drought conditions; all cows were nursing calves and calf gains did not vary between treatments. In both locations, the burned patches had higher fecal density and lower available forage biomass than patches not yet burned throughout the grazing season, indicating grazer attraction to burned areas. Despite drought, burned patches maintained grazer attraction and animal performance was maintained or even improved, which contrasts with the expected relationship between animal performance and precipitation. This study indicated that prescribed patch-burning might mitigate drought by buffering forage resources (crude protein content and availability) and maintaining animal performance (average daily gains).     

Fall Water Effects on Growing Season Soil Water Content and Plant Productivity

Understanding fall precipitation effects on rangelands could improve forage production forecasting and inform predictions of potential climate change effects. We used a rainout shelter and water addition to test effects of seasonal precipitation on soil water and annual net primary production of C₃ perennial grass, C₄ perennial grass, annual grasses, forbs, and all plants combined. Treatments were 1) drought during September−October and April−May (DD); 2) drought plus irrigation during September−October and drought during April−May (WD); 3) year-long ambient conditions (WW); and 4) ambient plus irrigation during September−October (W + W). Treatments created conditions ranking among the driest and wettest September−October periods since 1937. Fall water effects on soil water were not detectable by May at 15 cm and 30 cm. Effects persisted into July at 60 cm and 90 cm, depths below the primary root zone. With spring drought, annual net primary production was 344 kg ha⁻¹ greater when the previous fall was wet rather than dry. No differences were detected between fall water treatments when spring was wet and fall was about 184% (1 938 ± 117 kg ha⁻¹) or 391% of the median (1 903 ± 117 kg ha⁻¹). Fall water increased C₃ perennial grass when spring was also wet and had no effect under spring drought, when forage production concerns are greatest. Fall water did not affect C₄ perennial grass, and extremely wet fall conditions reduced forb production about 50%. The greatest effect of fall water was increased annual grass production. Even record high levels of fall water had minor effects on biomass, functional group composition, and soil water that were short-lived and overwhelmed by the influence of spring precipitation. Movement of fall water to deep soil by the growing season suggests plants that would most benefit from fall precipitation are those that could use it during fall (winter annuals), or deep-rooted species (shrubs).     

近18年内蒙古赤峰地区植被覆盖度与气候因子的关系

利用2000—2017年4—9月MODIS的16d归一化植被指数(NDVI)合成产品和1961—2017年逐日气温、降水量资料,分析了内蒙古赤峰地区植被覆盖度变化趋势及其对气候因子的响应。结果表明,近57年来赤峰地区平均气温呈显著升高趋势(P<0.05),升温速度0.22℃/10a,降水量呈微弱减少趋势,减少速率为3.38mm/10a;气温和降水逐月变化呈单峰态分布,7月平均气温(22.4℃)和降水量(118.9mm)显著高于其他月份。近18年来,赤峰地区逐年NDVI呈显著增加趋势(P<0.05),增加速率为0.0025/a,逐月NDVI呈单峰型变化趋势,峰值出现在7月(0.7594)、8月(0.7262);赤峰地区NDVI与4—9月、6月、7月、8月降水量均呈正相关关系(显著水平为P<0.01),相关系数分别为0.730、0.724、0.789、0.782,5月、9月降水量与NDVI呈正相关关系(显著水平为P<0.05);平均气温与NDVI呈正相关关系但相关关系较弱。     

2000-2014年浑善达克沙地植被覆盖变化研究

基于2000-2014年间植被生长季(4-10月)的MODIS NDVI数据反演浑善达克沙地地区植被覆盖变化,结合2000-2013年该地区周边11个气象站点的气温和降水数据,分别从年际变化和月变化角度分析该地区植被覆盖变化对气候变化的响应。研究表明,浑善达克沙地植被NDVI,不论是植被生长季平均值,还是其各月份值都呈上升趋势。研究区植被覆盖度的显著增加是气候和人为因素综合作用的结果, 一定程度上反映了生态恢复重建措施的有效性,但其植被NDVI年际变化趋势与降水量的关系更密切,其相关系数达到0.75,是驱动植被覆盖年际波动的最直接因素。在空间分布上,研究区的南部、中部和北部边缘区域的植被覆盖增加趋势较明显,而中部和西部部分区域未发生明显的趋势性变化。从月变化来看,4月草地植被变化受气温变化影响较明显;5-8月与前一月降水变化关系密切,说明植被生长对降水变化具有一定的滞后性。从沙地类型植被覆盖年际变化趋势看,所有类型都呈增加态势,增加态势最大的类型是移动沙地,最小的是固定沙地。     

Potential Consequences of Repeated Severe Drought for Shortgrass Steppe Species

Future climate projections indicate temperatures in the shortgrass steppe region are likely to increase up to 3°C by midcentury, with a corresponding reduction in soil moisture even without precipitation deficit. Although periodic drought is a natural disturbance in shortgrass rangeland, negative effects on characteristic shortgrass species are possible as the frequency and severity of drought events increase in comparison with recent historic norms. As part of a study intended to detect vegetation changes at a shortgrass steppe site on Colorado’s eastern plains, frequency and canopy cover percentage were measured in 37 permanently marked plots over a period of 17 yr. The study period included the two lowest total annual precipitation yr (2002 and 2012) in the period of record for regional weather stations, exceeding even the driest years of the extended 1930s drought. Growing season mean temperatures during those drought years were 1°C and 1.6°C above the 1971 ? 2000 average, respectively. Three of the six perennial grass species monitored showed a decline over the period of the study. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), a dominant and important forage species in the shortgrass steppe, declined in both cover and frequency, while alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides), not an important forage species, slightly increased. In addition to changes in graminoid dominance, we observed an increase in cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata) and a decrease in sandsage (Artemisia filifolia) densities between 1999 and 2015. Even if total productivity of the shortgrass steppe is maintained under warming and drying conditions, changes in species composition have implications for rangeland quality with regard to its use for livestock grazing and use by wildlife such as small mammals and songbirds.     

极端干旱对内蒙古荒漠草原植物群落物种多样性和土壤性质的影响

在内蒙古希拉穆仁荒漠草原利用人工设置野外减雨措施(生长季5～8月减雨66％、6～7月减雨100％和自然降雨)探讨荒漠草原植物群落物种多样性和土壤理化性质对极端干旱的响应特征.结果表明:(1)极端干旱改变了荒漠草原植物群落结构组成,促使多年生根茎型及一二年生草本植物成为主要优势种.(2)减雨66％和减雨100％两种极端干...     

Sagebrush Control: At What Canopy Cover Is It Economically Justified?

We determine the economic threshold level for big sagebrush control based on 18 yr of forage-response data from an experiment conducted in Carbon County, Wyoming. We analyze the impacts of climatic variables and treatment site characteristics, such as sagebrush abundance levels, precipitation, and understory composition, on forage response and threshold level. We find that sagebrush canopy cover levels, April precipitation, May soil moisture, and understory composition are statistically significant factors in explaining forage response to sagebrush treatment. Forage yield across treated and untreated plots for 10 canopy cover levels, ranging from 4% to 40%, are analyzed via panel data regression techniques. We further investigate the impact of variability in precipitation and understory characteristics on economic outcomes of sagebrush control by analyzing three scenarios. Scenario 1 uses actual forage response data that include all variability from precipitation and understory composition. Scenario 2 uses regression-predicted yields across plots assuming average precipitation and soil moisture conditions. Scenario 3 uses regression-predicted yields assuming average precipitation, soil moisture, and understory characteristics across plots. Net present values based on value of grazing (for estimated yield differences between treated and untreated plots assuming 50% forage utilization) compared to treatment cost across sagebrush cover levels are estimated across these three scenarios. Results indicate that the economic threshold level of sagebrush infestation for the study period was between 8% and 24% for the analyzed scenarios. This indicates variability in precipitation and understory composition impact forage response and the resulting economics of sagebrush control. We conclude that range managers should consider potential control site characteristics and long-range weather forecasts when contemplating sagebrush control.     

红砂对大气CO_2浓度升高及降水变化的生长响应

以荒漠植物红砂(Reamuria soongorica)为试材,采用开顶式CO_2控制气室模拟CO_2浓度变化(350,550和700μmol·mol–1),研究了降水变化(-30%,-15%,0,+15%,+30%)及其与CO_2的协同作用对红砂生长特性的影响。结果表明:在6、7、8月份,CO_2浓度增加对5种降水下红砂的株高、地上生物量、根生物量和总生物量均有增肥效应,且降水增加时的增肥效应大于降水减少时的。6、7月份,红砂的根质量分数和根冠比在5种降水下均随CO_2浓度的升高而降低;而在8月份仅降水为-15%时,CO_2浓度增加可促进红砂的根质量分数和根冠比。综上所述,未来降水增多时,CO_2浓度升高可促进红砂地上生物量积累来获取更多资源;降水减少,CO_2浓度增加可促进地下生物量的分配来适应干旱环境,但这种调节作用与降水的多少及处理时间长短有关。     

共和盆地温性草原物候期草地生产力与气候因素的灰色关联度分析

利用灰色关联分析方法,对共和盆地温性草原草地生产力与气候因素的关联程度作相关分析,以牧草各物候期产量为对照数列,以牧草生长期月均温、月降水量及月日照时间为对比数列,经分析结果表明:牧草抽穗期产量与5月的降水量、温度和3-5月的日照时间关联度最大,而牧草籽粒成熟期产量与6-8月的温度和日照时间关联度最大。因此,在牧草早期生长阶段牧草产量取决于5月的降水量、温度和3-5月的日照时间,而在牧草成熟阶段牧草产量取决于6-8月的温度、日照时间,尤其是6-8月的温度是决定当年牧草产量高低的关键因素。     

气象干旱过程识别及致灾因子特征分析

为科学识别气象干旱及其发生、发展过程，并探究其致灾因子变化特征，通过1981—2020年海西州8个气象站点逐日气象干旱综合指数（Meteorological drought composite index，MCI）描述历年干旱事件，识别干旱过程个数、入旱出旱时间，分析干旱过程强度、干旱过程降水量等。结果表明：1981—2020年，海西州共识别干旱过程192个，干旱开始时间介于5月18日—6月20日之间，结束时间介于7月4日—8月8日之间，历时时长40~63 d；各等级干旱日数变化趋势不一，茫崖、乌兰县干旱日数变化呈增加趋势，变化倾向率分别为2.0 d·（10a）^-1，1.0 d·（10a）^-1，其余站点呈减小趋势，变化倾向率介于-4.0～-1.0 d·（10a）^-1。不同干旱等级的干旱日数大体呈中部少，西部多的态势，西南地区干旱最为严重；时间序列上，轻、中、重、特旱日数和年最长连续干旱日数呈减少趋势；年最长连续干旱日数均值为16 d，最大值为65 d （1995年）；茫崖干旱过程强度最高，天峻和都兰相对较低。     

3种禾本科牧草抗旱性的初步鉴定

以当前贵州主栽品种努依黑麦草为对照,利用生物学鉴定方法对贵州省草业研究所选育的黔草1号、2号苇状羊茅的抗旱性加以初步鉴定。结果表明:在干旱逆境条件下,随着土壤的干涸,引起3种牧草失水,导致蛋白质合成减弱和分解增强,致使其含量下降,且叶绿素的形成受到抑制,含量迅速减少,甚至耗尽。3种牧草的抗旱性强弱顺序为:黔草1号>黔草2号>努依黑麦草。     

广西鸡舍内主要环境因子变化对蛋鸡生产性能的影响

为了解广西鸡舍内主要环境因子变化对蛋鸡生产性能的影响,本试验以全封闭笼养蛋鸡舍为对象,于2018年04月-2018年5月,每天监测鸡舍内环境的温度、相对湿度、CO2、NH3、H2S、SO2浓度变化,测定点设在鸡舍的前中后位置,每隔3 d测定鸡舍内细菌的总数,并分析各种环境因子与蛋鸡生产性能的相关性。结果显示,4月份和5月份蛋鸡舍内的温度与相对湿度均呈正相关关系,与CO2和NH3浓度均呈负相关关系(P<0.01),温度在29.1℃~30.2℃时,温度与产蛋率呈显著负相关(P<0.05);日均相对湿度与日均CO2浓度均呈负相关关系(P<0.01),5月份日均相对湿度与舍内日均NH3浓度呈负相关关系(P<0.05);4月份和5月份舍内日均CO2浓度与NH3浓度呈正相关关系;舍内温度、相对湿度、CO2浓度和NH3浓度与鸡舍内环境空气细菌总量有一定相关性;鸡舍内环境空气细菌总量与日均蛋鸡淘汰率、日均破蛋率相关关系不明显。试验表明,全封闭鸡舍内温度的升高对本地蛋鸡的产蛋率有显著影响,应及时调整通风和降温措施,以免影响蛋鸡的产蛋率。     

低温和干旱胁迫下牧草的抗逆性机制

低温和干旱是限制牧草生长发育和产量的两个非生物胁迫因子。掌握牧草抗逆性机制,选育具有强抗寒性和抗旱性的牧草是寒旱地区草牧业高质量发展和退化草地生态系统恢复的重要基础。在形态学层面,低温和干旱胁迫条件下牧草会形成多种抗逆性形态结构,这些结构的变化能很好地反映牧草对逆境的响应和适应能力。在生理生化层面,牧草通过调节超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶、游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质、脱落酸、乙烯、赤霉素和细胞分裂素等的响应,以适应低温和干旱胁迫。在分子水平层面,牧草通过信号转导、应答和抵御基因的表达等综合作用,以适应寒旱胁迫。总之,本研究从牧草形态学、生理生化和分子水平三个层面综述了牧草对低温和干旱胁迫的响应和适应机制,以期为全面认识牧草抗逆机制提供重要参考。     

The impact of grazing on forage quality of the herbaceous vegetation in the Mamora cork oak forest,Morocco

Abstract

This research was conducted in the Mamora cork oak forest of Morocco to describe the impacts of sheep grazing (no use, 35% use, 70% use) in March, April, May and June of 1987 and 1988 on seasonal changes in forage quality of the herbaceous vegetation. The study showed that trends in herbage quality were related mainly to plant maturity. As more species mature, forage quality declines and falls below animal nutritional requirements, especially for young animals. With declining forage quality, the manager has the option of moving stock to areas of less‐mature forage, supplementing the forage or modifying the demand placed upon it.     

西藏怒江河谷流域NDVI变化与主要气候因子的关系

利用1998年12月-2008年11月西藏怒江流域每旬最大化NDVI数据集(S10)产品,研究了10年内流域NDVI的时空变化,发现研究区植被情况总体比较好且在研究时段内变化不大。结合流域内9个气象站点1998年12月-2008年11月的月平均气温、降水量、日照时数资料,研究了流域各类型NDVI与气候因子的关系,发现4月的气温可能以积温的形式影响牧草返青,而5、6、7月的气温影响牧草生长,这对草地放牧有一定的指导意义。     

Effects of drought‐stressed temperate forage legumes on the degradation and the rumen microbial community in vitro

According to climate change scenarios, central Europe may expect extending drought periods during summer. Lower water availability may influence the ruminal digestion of individual forage legume species differently. To test this hypothesis, Lotus corniculatus L. (var. Bull), Medicago lupulina L. (var. Ekola), Medicago falcata L. (wild seeds) and Trifolium repens L. (var. Rivendel) were each grown in parallel lots of control and drought‐stressed monocultures. Rainout shelters (installed in May 2011 on a regrowth after first cut until harvest in mid of June) withheld rainfall of 40 mm in the drought stress treatment. Samples of dried (60°C) and milled (5 mm screen) forage legumes were incubated in a simulation experiment using Rusitec to assess drought effects on parameters for microbial metabolism. Degradability of dry matter and organic matter as well as methane production decreased in incubations with drought‐stressed compared to control variants of legume species. Degradability of crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and residual organic matter including non‐fibre carbohydrates and lipids were affected by interactions between drought stress and species. Significant interactions were also found for ammonia concentrations, molar SCFA proportions and the microbial communities. It is concluded that drought stress for growing forage legumes influences their ruminal degradation and fermentation as well as the ruminal microbial communities of Bacteria and Archaea differently in a legume species‐dependent manner.     

不同种类早熟禾苗期抗旱性综合评价

在干旱半干旱地区,水分是牧草生长的主要限制因素之一,探究牧草苗期阶段的抗旱性特征对干旱地区牧草引种筛选具有重要意义。本研究选取了青海省海北地区的8份早熟禾属(Poa L.)种质材料,于苗期分别对其进行干旱胁迫处理,并测定干旱胁迫后第5d和第10d各草种叶片的细胞膜透性及丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸和叶绿素的含量,运用Fuzzy数学中隶属函数法对8种早熟禾进行抗旱性综合评判。结果表明:随着胁迫时间的延长,8份早熟禾属种质材料的叶绿素含量均显著下降(P0.05),细胞膜透性、脯氨酸和MDA含量则显著增加(P0.05)。综合评价结果表明:不同种质材料间苗期抗旱性差异较大,由强到弱依次为:草地早熟禾高原早熟禾山地早熟禾光稃早熟禾波伐早熟禾早熟禾莫若波利草地早熟禾冷地早熟禾,草地早熟禾和高原早熟禾抗旱性较强,更适合在干旱地区种植。     

Vegetation Responses to Prescribed Burning of Grazed Shortgrass Steppe

Over the past century, fire has been widely suppressed in the western Great Plains, in part because of the potential negative effects on forage production for livestock. More recently, interest in the use of prescribed fire in shortgrass steppe has increased because of the potential applications for wildlife management, control of unpalatable plant species, and restoration of historic disturbance regimes. We studied the effects of prescribed burns conducted during late winter on herbaceous production, forage nitrogen content, and plant species composition of shortgrass steppe on the Pawnee National Grassland in northeastern Colorado. Late-winter burns conducted in moderately grazed sites under a wide range of precipitation conditions during 1997–2001 did not negatively affect herbaceous production in either the first or the second postburn growing season. Burning followed by a severe drought in 2002 reduced production by 19% in the second postburn growing season of 2003. Burns temporarily suppressed the abundance of broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) and prickly pear cactus (Opuntia polyacantha) and enhanced forage nitrogen content during May and June of the first postburn growing season. These findings suggest that, except following severe drought, prescribed burns conducted during late winter in grazed shortgrass steppe for objectives unrelated to livestock production can also have neutral or positive consequences for livestock.     

Bluebunch Wheatgrass Response to Spring Defoliation on Foothill Rangeland

Spring elk grazing may reduce forage availability for wildlife or livestock in summer and may harm forage resources on foothill rangeland. We quantified bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] A. Love) response to spring defoliation on foothill rangeland in southwestern Montana. Two experiments were conducted simultaneously on a foothill grassland site and a foothill sagebrush steppe site. Bluebunch wheatgrass plants (n = 800) were selected and excluded from wild and domestic ungulates. Clipping treatments were applied in either early spring (mid- to late April) or late spring (mid- to late May), and plants were clipped to 1 of 3 residual heights (3, 6, or 9 cm) for 1, 2, or 3 successive years. Unclipped plants served as controls. Plant response was measured in late June and late July on both sites. April clipping for 3 successive years did not adversely affect bluebunch wheatgrass in June or July (P > 0.05) at either site. On foothill grassland, May defoliation to 3 cm for 2 consecutive years reduced leaf height (P = 0.04) in July. May defoliation for 3 successive years to 3 or 6 cm reduced plant yield (P < 0.05) and leaf height (P < 0.05) in June, and May defoliation for 3 successive years to 3 cm reduced leaf height (P = 0.02) in July. On foothill sagebrush steppe, 3 successive years of May defoliation to ≤ 9-cm stubble heights decreased leaf height in June (P < 0.05). We conclude that foothill rangelands where bluebunch wheatgrass receives moderate or light defoliation (6–9-cm residual stubble heights) in mid- to late May should be limited to no more than 2 successive years of mid- to late May grazing, whereas sites that receive heavy to severe defoliation (≤ 3-cm residual stubble heights) in mid- to late May should not be grazed for 2 successive years during mid- to late May.