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Stability of Grazed Patches on Rough Fescue Grasslands

1988; University of Arizona; Volume: 41; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/3899527

2162-2728

Walter D. Willms, John F. Dormaar, G. Bruce Schaalje,

Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

cootiouous stockiog usu8Ily leads to the fonlutioo of grued patclkea. However, the effect of p&bee 00 the grazelMd c0mmunity is related to their stability. Therefore, we ztudied the spatial stability of grazed pat&e oo Rough Fezcue Gramlande by map ping forage remov8l clmuee 00 10 site8 over 8 Cyeu period, tezting stability uzing the Kappa index (H), and characterizing the soila and vegetatioo of overgrazed and undergrazed patches. Spotlal stability of grazed patches between comecutivc yeam wm good (lEO.26) oo &en experieming low grazing prwsure. However, oo dtea having high grazing preezure, spatial stability waz Iese comizteot between comecutive yeuz (DKSO.45) ud low over 8 Cyeu period (K10.10). Overgrazed patches were dominated by graziogresistant zeral speck, but undergrazed patcher were dominated by climu species. Rough feecue (%cstuco SC&&~ 8nd P8rry oat grazs @u&to& porryi) plantz were 50% shorter, and forage production waz about 35% lees, on overgrazed than on undergrazed patches. Soil organic matter, carbohydratea, and depth of Ah horizon were zignificantly greater oo undergrazed patches but ureaze activity, NO& NH,, and available phosphorus were greater oo overgrazed patchez. Overgrazed and undagrazed patches were stable in the long term, although patch bouodariez fluctu8ted.