Grazing Intensity Effects on Northern Plains Mixed-Grass Prairie

Authors

Wendi M. Rogers, North Dakota State University
Donald R. Kirby, North Dakota State University--FargoFollow
Paul E. Nyren, Central Grasslands Research and Extension Center
Bob D. Patton, Central Grasslands Research and Extension Center
Edward S. Dekeyser, North Dakota State University--Fargo

Date of this Version

6-2005

Document Type

Article

Citation

THE PRAIRIE NATURALIST, Volume 37, No. 2, June 2005, pp 73-83

Comments

Published by the Great Plains Natural Science Society. Used by permission.

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of long-term (1988 to 2000) grazing on northern mixed-grass prairie at tI.e Central Grasslands Research Extension Center in south-central North Dakota. We did not detect a difference in herbaceous basal cover between grazing intensities following 12 consecutive years of season-long moderate (50% removal of annual above-ground standing crop) and heavy (80% removal of annual above-ground standing crop) grazing. However, both moderate and heavy grazing intensities reduced above-ground herbaceous standing crop, total root biomass, and soil organic carbon. Moderate grazing intensity maintained a greater amount of deep (10 to 20 cm) and total root biomass relative to heavy grazing intensity. Several of our findings were in contrast to earlier studies on the same grazing intensity trials, highlighting the importance of considering both short- and long-term effects of grazing intensity on mixed-grass prairie.