Summer and Winter Defoliation Impacts on Mixed-Grass Rangeland |
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| Authors: | Alexander J Smart Roger N Gates Patricia S Johnson Rebecca Schafer |
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| Institution: | 1. Professor, Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA;2. Professor, Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, West River Agricultural Center, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA;3. former Livestock Educator, currently residing in Aurora, SD 57002, USA;1. Research geneticists, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Forage and Range Research Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA;2. Beaver County Extension Agent, Utah State University, Beaver, UT 84713, USA;1. Soil Scientist, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, Reno, NV 89512, USA;2. Research Technician, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, Reno, NV 89512, USA;1. Professor, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada;2. Research Scientist, Lethbridge Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada;3. Graduate Student, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada;4. Provincial Rangeland Specialist, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Lands Division, Pincher Creek, AB, T0K 1W0 Canada;1. Ecologist, USDA-ARS, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 67826, USA;2. Assistant Professor, Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84642, USA;3. Professor, Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84642, USA;4. Associate Professor, Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84642, USA;5. Professor, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA;1. Researcher, Agricultural Research Council, Animal Production Institute, Irene 0062, South Africa;2. Professor of Plant Ecology, School of Life Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Scottsville 3209, South Africa;3. Principal Researcher, CSIR: Natural Resources and the Environment, Pretoria 0001, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | Combined growing- and dormant-season pasture use has potential to increase herbage harvest without causing the undesirable shift in species composition that occurs with excessive utilization. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of summer clipping on winter pastures and winter clipping on summer pastures regarding standing crop, plant community composition, and forage quality. The study was conducted from 2003–2006 at the Antelope and Cottonwood Research Stations located in the mixed-grass prairie of western South Dakota. At each location, the experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications that included 18 clipping treatments arranged as a split-split plot. Whole plots consisted of four summer clipping dates (May–August). Subplot treatments were two clipping intensities (clipped to residual height to achieve 25% or 50% utilization). Sub-subplots consisted of two winter clipping intensities (unharvested or clipped to a residual height to achieve a total utilization of 65%). Two winter control treatments were arranged in the subplot and split into two clipping intensities of 50% and 65% utilization. Winter biomass for the May 25% clipping treatment was similar to winter biomass for winter-only clipping. No increase in forage quality resulted from summer clipping compared with winter clipping. Three consecutive yr of combined growing-season and dormant-season defoliation to 65% utilization resulted in no change in functional group composition compared with ≤ 50% utilization treatments. Clipping in June resulted in reduced midgrass biomass at both stations and increased shortgrass biomass at Cottonwood. Results suggest that producers could combine growing and dormant-season grazing to increase the harvest of herbage on mixed-grass prairie, but should change season of use periodically to avoid an undesirable shift in plant composition. |
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