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ANNUAL RANGELAND WEED RESPONSE TO ADAPTIVE GRAZING MANAGEMENT IN A DROUGHT STRICKEN CALIFORNIA.
Author
Eastburn, Danny J.
Tate, Ken
Roche, Leslie
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2017
Body

The widespread invasion of California�s Mediterranean-type annual rangelands has led to declines in the multiple benefits society derives from these landscapes. It is imperative to find successful strategies for managing weedy invasives in these complex socio-ecological systems while adapting to a changing climate�which is expected to bring increasing frequency, severity, and durations of drought. Our investigation focused on testing the response of�Taeniatherum caput-medusae,�pasture productivity and species richness to three stakeholder prescribed grazing management strategies: season long continuous, fall-spring with winter rest, and fall-spring targeted grazing.� We deployed an extensive permanent grid of 4 plots per acre across three grassland pastures (~120 ac each) and three oak woodland pastures (~200 ac each). This allowed for spatial and classical analysis of treatment effects. We found a reduction in�T. caput-medusae�ranging from 15% to 25% across all treatments. Through a spatial analysis utilizing natural neighbor interpolation we found targeted grazing reduced and nearly eliminated�T. caput-medusae�dominated communities (defined as >50% cover).�We also found available forage was greatest within the targeted grazing treatment pastures, which was potentially due to increased forage harvesting efficiencies. We have found the potential capacity to adapt to drought is greatest in the intensive rotational grazing treatment pastures. The results of this study will help land managers and producers in decision making for drought adaptation and invasive weed management.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM St. George, UT
Collection
SRM Annual Meeting Abstracts