Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Atrazine, Spring Burning, and Nitrogen for Improvement of Tallgrass Prairie
Author
Gillen, R. L.
Rollins, D.
Stritzke, J. F.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1987-09-01
Body

Spring application of atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] (1.1 kg ha-1 a.i.), burning, and nitrogen (33 kg ha-1 as ammonium nitrate) were evaluated alone and in all combinations for improvement of mid-seral tallgrass prairie in northcentral Oklahoma. Studies were initiated in 1984 (Study I) and 1985 (Study II). Precipitation and successional status of the vegetation at treatment application were higher for Study II than for Study I. Atrazine effectively reduced forbs and annual grasses for 2 years after application. Atrazine stimulated warm-season perennial grasses but did not generally increase total herbage production. Burning was similar to atrazine for annual grass control in both studies. Burning was also similar to atrazine for forb control in Study I but had no impact on forb production in Study II. Burning increased perennial grass production only in the second year of Study I. Burning decreased total herbage production in the first year of Study I by reducing annual grasses and forbs but did not affect total herbage production on other dates. Nitrogen did not consistently increase perennial grass production but did increase forb production by 250-300% when applied alone. Both atrazine and burning rapidly shifted species composition in favor of desirable perennial grasses. Nitrogen was not as effective in changing species composition either alone or in combination with atrazine and burning. The number and complexity of treatment responses declined as successional status and/or precipitation improved. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. 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)
10.2307/3899608
Additional Information
Gillen, R. L., Rollins, D., & Stritzke, J. F. (1987). Atrazine, spring burning, and nitrogen for improvement of tallgrass prairie. Journal of Range Management, 40(5), 444-447.
IISN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/645136
Journal Volume
40
Journal Number
5
Journal Pages
444-447
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
atrazine
grassland improvement
fertilizer application
ecological succession
nitrogen
prescribed burning
Oklahoma
Poaceae
prairies
botanical composition