Rangeland Ecology & Management

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BATTLING THE SECOND GREEN GLACIER: AN ANALYSIS OF SERICEA LESPEDEZA (LESPEDEZA CUNEATA) MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Author
Sherrill, Cooper W.
Fuhlendorf, Samuel D.
Goodman, Laura
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2018
Body

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata [Dum.-Cours] G. Don) is invading rangelands of the southern Great Plains and is believed to have negative impacts on livestock production and biodiversity. �Historically, research efforts have focused largely on testing the efficacy of selective herbicides and more recently, the use of prescribed fire to alter grazing patterns on sericea lespedeza (patch burning). We present research on a unique long-term data set on landscapes where patch-burn grazing [Bison (Bison bison) and cattle (Bos spp.)] and herbicides have been variably applied. The research was conducted at The Nature Conservancy�s Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (Pawhuska, Oklahoma) and at Oklahoma State University�s Range Research Station (Stillwater, Oklahoma). At the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, we re-sampled 151 of the 10x10m vegetation monitoring plot that where established in 1999, with a special focus on a select group of forbs because of their importance to biodiversity. At Oklahoma State�s Range Research Station, the (3) .80 x .80 km patch burn pastures along with the (3) .80 x .80 km traditionally managed pastures (spring fire every third year) where sampled to determine sericea lespedeza invasion over the past 20 years and the effects the treatments have had on the native plant community. Analyzed data from the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve suggests that the long-term use of patch-burn grazing and herbicide application have variable effects on the invasion of sericea lespedeza as well as the maintenance of native plant biodiversity. At Oklahoma State�s Range Research Station, the patch-burn pastures have a significantly lower canopy cover of sericea lespedeza when compared to that of the traditionally managed pastures, suggesting that the patch-burn treatment is more effective at slowing the invasion rate of sericea lespedeza.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Reno, NV