학술논문

Effects of residual dry matter on net primary production and plant functional groups in Californian annual grasslands
Document Type
Report
Author abstract
Source
Grass and Forage Science. Dec, 2007, Vol. 62 Issue 4, p445, 8 p.
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0142-5242
Abstract
To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.2007.00599.x Byline: J. W. Bartolome (*), R. D. Jackson ([dagger]), A. D. K. Betts ([double dagger]), J. M. Connor (s.), G. A. Nader ([paragraph]), K. W. Tate (**) Keywords: rangeland; forage production; grazing; litter; annual grassland Abstract: Abstract A five-year experiment tested the response of above-ground net primary production (ANPP) and plant functional groups to manipulations in residual dry matter (RDM), reflecting typical grazing practices in Californian annual grasslands. The RDM treatments were 225, 560, 900 and 5000 kg ha.sup.-1 with the latter treatment representing no grazing by livestock. ANPP in autumn, winter and spring showed a strong year x RDM interaction indicating that, in periods with higher herbage mass, the highest RDM treatment, representative of no grazing, was usually more productive. However, the opposite pattern was observed for the autumn period when ANPP was lowest. Random effects models indicated that at most 0*20 of the variation in ANPP for any of the three seasons stemmed from RDM treatments, with the remaining variation partitioned among temporal and spatial dimensions or not explained. Cover of grass species was highest under the highest RDM treatment in four of the five years, and lowest for the lowest RDM treatment compared with the two intermediate RDM treatments in the two years with the highest herbage masses. Cover of forbs and clover was higher on the lowest RDM treatment and lower on the highest RDM treatment than on the intermediate treatments. The results suggest that residual RDM values above 550 kg RDM ha.sup.-1 are appropriate for annual grasslands with a mean annual precipitation of more than 400 mm and offer a compromise between herbage use and promotion of future productivity and diversity, but direct control of ANPP and composition via management is not attainable because the environmental factors are predominant. Author Affiliation: (*)Ecosystem Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA ([dagger])Agronomy Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA ([double dagger])Bureau of Land Management, Jarbidge Field Office, Twin Falls, ID, USA (s.)Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center, University of California, Browns Valley, CA, USA ([paragraph])University of California Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA, USA (**)Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA Article History: Received 13 February 2007; revised 24 April 2007 Article note: J. W. Bartolome, University of California, 137 Mulford Hall MC3114, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA., E-mail: jwbart@nature.berkeley.edu