Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Influence of Japanese brome on western wheatgrass yield
Author
Haferkamp, M. R.
Heitschmidt, R. K.
Karl, M. G.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1997-01-01
Body

Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus Thunb.) has invaded many northern mixed-prairie plant communities. Understanding interactions of population dynamics of this and associated species is critical for proper management of communities infested with this annual. Objectives of this study were to determine the effect of Japanese brome removal on aboveground forage production and daily plant water relations of western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii Rydb. (Love)] and Japanese brome in a western wheatgrass dominated northern mixed grass prairie community. During early spring of 1991, a wet year, and 1992, a dry year, 2 treatments, undisturbed and complete (total) removal of Japanese brome seedlings, were applied by hand at silty clay loam and clay field sites in circular, 1-m2 quadrats. Vegetation in additional quadrats was left undisturbed or Japanese brome was removed to assess plant water relations at each site in 1992. Total standing crop was reduced 500 kg ha-1 with removal of Japanese brome, while standing crop of western wheatgrass was increased 220 kg ha-2 with Japanese brome removal. Increased standing crop of western wheatgrass appeared to result from increased tiller density of 153 tillers m-2 rather than increased weight per tiller. Western wheatgrass water relations were essentially unaffected by Japanese brome removal in 1992. Removal of Japanese brome from Northern Great Plains plant communities may increase production of associated perennial grasses, but managers should also expect a short-term decrease in total standing crop. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/4002704
Additional Information
Haferkamp, M. R., Heitschmidt, R. K., & Karl, M. G. (1997). Influence of Japanese brome on western wheatgrass yield. Journal of Range Management, 50(1), 44-50.
IISN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/644273
Journal Volume
50
Journal Number
1
Journal Pages
44-50
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
textural soil types
Bromus japonicus
stomatal conductance
crop-weed competition
rain
seedlings
soil water content
Pascopyrum smithii
xylem water potential
tillers
biomass
water relations
removal
Montana