Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Evaluation and Management of Grasses for Dual Livestock and Game Bird Use
Author
Holt, E. C.
Cain, J. R.
Hendler, R. J.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1985-07-01
Body

Kleingrass 75 and Verde kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.), PI 217229 and PMT 4022 plains bristlegrass (Setaria macrostachya H.B.K.) Nees), and commercial green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia (H.B.K.), were studied for forage and seed production. Acceptability of seed was studied using caged bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). Defoliation management practices had relatively little influence on forage yield. Forage digestibility declined rapidly when defoliation was delayed, and the species responded differently in the rate and pattern of decline. Seed yields were as high or higher with 30-day interval harvesting as with deferred harvesting except that spring deferment increased kleingrass and summer deferment increased green sprangletop seed yields. Green sprangletop also produced more seed by leaving a 20-cm stubble than a 10-cm stubble. These indeterminate species apparently mature seed in approximately 30 days, indicating that a management system that leaves some tillers intact for 30 days or longer will result in some seed formation. Seed production decreases to nil in 2 to 3 months following first maturity in an undefoliated stand. Bobwhite quail readily consumed kleingrass seed as a significant portion of their diet even in the presence of a high quality game bird diet. They subsisted for short periods on an all grass seed diet, but consumed little plains bristlegrass or green sprangletop when game bird diet, pearl millet, or kleingrass were present. Thus, kleingrass has the most potential of the species studied for dual use. 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)
10.2307/3899418
Additional Information
Holt, E. C., Cain, J. R., & Hendler, R. J. (1985). Evaluation and management of grasses for dual livestock and game bird use. Journal of Range Management, 38(4), 342-346.
IISN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/645487
Journal Volume
38
Journal Number
4
Journal Pages
342-346
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
Leptochloa dubia
setaria macrostachya
Leptochloa
seed production
Panicum coloratum
Colinus virginianus
land restoration
forage