Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Level Benches for Forage Production in the Northern Plains
Author
Rauzi, F.
Landers, L.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1982-03-01
Body

Level benches 4- and 8-m-wide were constructed at the Wyoming Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Gillette, Wyoming 1970. Replicated benches and controls were seeded with Ladak alfalfa, Nordan crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, and mixtures of Ladak alfalfa and crested and intermediate wheatgrass. Phosphorus (134 kg P2O5/ha) was applied to all benches and to the control. Ammonium nitrate was applied at 90 kg N/ha in May 1972 and 1977, and at 45 kg/ha in April 1974 to the benches and control, except those seeded to alfalfa alone. Snow trapped in the benches was not uniformly distributed because of the benches' northeast orientation. However, more soil water was available for plant use. The deep-rooted alfalfa was compatible with the shallow-rooted crested wheatgrass and seemed the best combination tested for forage production on level benches in northeast Wyoming. Construction of level benches is a practice that can ensure a dependable source of quality feed by trapping and holding snow for onsite use. Forage yields from the henches and the controls varied with years. During the 8 years (1970-1978) on the 4- and 8-m-wide benches, alfalfa yields averaged 3,420 and 3,813 kg/ha, respectively, and alfalfa and crested wheatgrass mixture averaged 3,560 and 3,855 kg/ha, respectively. Crested wheatgrass alone on 4- and 8-m-wide benches averaged 2,569 and 2,456 kg/ha, respectively, and on the 4- and 8-m-wide control averaged 2,382 and 2,786 kg/ha, respectively. Intermediate wheatgrass on the 4- and 8-m-wide benches averaged 2,329 and 3,425 kg/ha, respectively, and on the 4- and 8-m-wide controls averaged 2,565 and 3,262 kg/ha, respectively. Grass yields did not differ significantly when grasses were grown alone on the benches or on the control. 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)
10.2307/3898383
Additional Information
Rauzi, F., & Landers, L. E. L. A. N. D. (1982). Level benches for forage production in the Northern Plains. Journal of Range Management, 35(2), 166-171.
IISN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/646219
Journal Volume
35
Journal Number
2
Journal Pages
166-171
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
Wyoming