Study

Management practices in tallgrass prairie: large- and small-scale experimental effects on species composition

  • Published source details Gibson D.J., Seastedt T.R. & Briggs J.M. (1993) Management practices in tallgrass prairie: large- and small-scale experimental effects on species composition. Journal of Applied Ecology, 30, 247-255.

Summary

The Flint Hill region of north-eastern Kansas, USA is one of the few surviving unploughed areas of tallgrass prairie, due to steep slopes and rocky terrain. The area has been traditionally managed by cattle grazing and hay-making. Prescribed burning is undertaken to maintain high production levels and keep out woody species. The effects of contrasting management practices on the species composition of tallgrass prairie in Kansas, USA were examined at two spatial scales. In the study described here the effect of burning, mowing and fertilizer application in small-scale plots was investigated.

Study site: The study was undertaken on the Konza Prairie Reseach Natural Area, in the Flint Hills Region of Kansas, USA. Dominant plant species include warm season (C4) grasses: big bluestemAndropogon gerardii, little bluestem A.scoparius and Indian grass Sorghastrum nutans; common forbs include heath aster Aster ericoides, western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya and western mugwort Artemesia ludoviciana.

Management treatments The effects of 3 years (1986-88) of burning, mowing and fertilizer treatments were examined in 64 plots of 100 m² according to a split-plot design. Groups of 16 plots were arranged into four blocks. Half of the plots within each block were burned annually in early May, the rest were unburned.Within each block, eight plots were mowed and hay removed, the rest were left unmown. Mowing took place twice yearly (early and mid-summer) in 1986 and 1987, and then in once in late June in 1988. Within a block, one of four levels of fertilizer treatments was applied.

Plant monitoring: In July 1989, percentage cover of all vascular plants was recorded in a 10 m² circular sample plot centred within each treatment plot.

Warm season grasses (C4) attained significantly higher cover in response to either mowing or burning (but not both in combination). These grasses decreased in response to nitrogen (N) fertilization when unburned. Woody species (i.e. lead plant Amorpha canescens, prairie rose Rosa arkansana and Indian currant Symphoricarpus orbiculatus) cover and richness was reduced by mowingand burning, and N-fertilizer when unmown (presumably due to grasses and herbs suppressing seedling establishment). Forb cover was lower on burned plots except when in combination with mowing.

The species composition of the small-scale plots was affected primarily by mowing, followed by fertilizer and then burning. Burning increased the abundance of some species (e.g. Andropogon scoparius) and decreased richness, but as an interaction with mowing or fertilizer. Burning also acted as a moderator for fertilizer responses.


Note: If using or referring to this published study, please read and quote the original paper, this can be viewed at:

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0021-8901%281993%2930%3A2%3C247%3AMPITPL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-T

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