Proceedings brand creation for a prescribed fire culture – utilizing key social media parameters. Lars Coleman*1, J. Kelly Hoffman1, Thomas McDaniel1, R. Patrick Bixler2, Urs P. Kreuter1, Morgan Russell3

Reseeding to restore disturbed rangelands is rarely successful or cost effective, particularly within hotter, drier, lower elevation sites. Seedling mortality is highest during the critical transition between reliance on stored carbohydrates in the endosperm and self-sufficiency through photosynthesis. During this transitional period, seedlings are vulnerable to attack from pathogenic fungus. Seed treatments with fungicides may protect the plant from fungus attack and improve seedling survival and vigor. Screening fungicides for use in wildland systems can be challenging in the laboratory as there is an array of native pathogens in the soil that may impact seedlings. Additionally, during the screening, fungal pathogens must be active and present in the soil at concentrations high enough to produce a significant treatment effect. Most laboratory fungicide screenings are tested against specific pathogens that have been cultured. Testing fungicides against the actual populations of pathogens in the soil within a controlled setting could improve the validity of the results. We hypothesize that an aqueous sugar solution could be added to native soil to activate fungal pathogens and promote fungal growth. We expect that increased microbial activity will result in greater pathogen attack and a better treatment response when evaluating fungicide seed treatments. In addition to screening fungicides, this method could be used for a variety of applications that evaluate soil fungal pathogen impacts. 

IMPACT OF YEAR, SEASON, ECOLOGICAL SITE AND DIFFERENT HERBIVORY LEVELS ON TILLER RECRUITMENT IN A MIXED GRASS PRAIRIE. John R. Hendrickson*¹, Patricia S. Johnson², Lan Xu³, Kevin Sedivec⁴, Mark A. Liebig¹, James Garrett⁵, Igathinathane Cannayen⁶, Gary Halvorson⁷; ¹USDA-ARS, Mandan, ND, ²South Dakota State University, Rapid City, SD, ³South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, ⁴North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, ⁵Sitting Bull College (Retired), Dupree, SD, ⁶North Dakota State University, Mandan, ND, ⁷Sitting Bull College, Fort Yates, ND

Understanding how different grazers, such as cattle and prairie dogs, impact tiller recruitment, can help develop state and transition models needed for ecological site descriptions. Study areas were selected on two different ecological sites, thin claypan and loamy, both with and without prairie dogs on a ranch near Mahto, SD. Livestock exclosures were fenced on each study area two years prior to the start of the study and paired with nearby non-exclosed areas. Therefore, on each ecological site, the grazing treatments were 1) No cattle, no prairie dogs (NCND), 2) cattle, no prairie dogs (CND), 3) no cattle, prairie dogs (NCD) and 4) cattle, prairie dogs (CD).  In spring 2014, all the western wheatgrass tillers [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Á. Löve] within 4 randomly located subplots (15 x 15 cm) in each main plot were counted and marked with a colored wire.  The subplots were revisited in the fall of 2014 and the spring and fall of 2015 and 2016 to evaluate tiller mortality and recruitment. Tiller tiller-1 recruitment greater than 1 indicates a growing population.  Years 2014 (1.02) and 2016 (0.85) had greater (P=0.0005) tiller tiller-1 recruitment than 2015 (0.41) and tiller recruitment was greater (P=0.0073) on the thin claypan (0.84) than the loamy site (0.68). However, in the Spring 2015, the loamy site (0.53) had greater recruitment than did the thin claypan site (0.31).  Tiller recruitment was highly variable with CND and NCND having tiller tiller-1 recruitment greater than 1 in 2014 but CD and NCD having tiller tiller-1 recruitment close to 1 in 2016.  Year rather than grazing intensity may drive tiller recruitment. Increased recruitment on the thin claypan site may be the result of longer prairie dog occupation on these sites.  Analysis of survivorship data should provide a clearer picture of the tiller dynamics on these sites.  

COVER CROPS FOR IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH AND FORAGE PRODUCTION ON THE KENAI PENINSULA. C. A. Matney*; University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

Recently cleared lands on the Kenai Peninsula are not typically ready for direct seeding of forage or other crops.  Most agricultural sites on the Kenai Peninsula were previously dominated by white spruce and paper birch with soils consisting of ash influenced loess over sandy and gravelly drift.  These soils are low in organic matter and fertility.  Land managers are in need of methods for soil improvement.  Beginning in 2016, a three-year trial was initiated on three cleared locations across the Kenai Peninsula, seeded with a four-species cover crop mix to evaluate the potential of using cool season cover crops to improve soil health and as a potential forage for livestock.  The trial consisted of two fertilizer treatments to support cover crop establishment: conventional fertilizer and organic fertilizer (fish bone fertilizer).  Each treatment was replicated four times at each location with an individual plot size of 2.4 x 4.6 m.  Plots were seeded in early July each year, and the species included in the cover crop mix were buckwheat, field pea, tillage radish, and white oats.  Pounds of forage production, penetrometer resistance, as well as pre-treatment and post-treatment soil tests for nutrients, organic matter, and Solvita soil health were determined.  This poster will present the preliminary results from 2016 and 2017. 

SOIL HEALTH EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING ON WORKING RANGELANDS IN THE GUNNISON VALLEY, CO US. Jake Courkamp*¹, Corrie Knapp¹, Bruce Allen²; ¹Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, CO, ²Allen Ranches, Gunnison, CO

Climate stressors, such as drought, can push rangelands towards critical thresholds that, if crossed, will lead to impaired productivity and ecosystem function. As such, innovative management will be necessary to safeguard the functionality of these ecosystems and reduce the likelihood of undesired transitions. Supplemental cattle feeding in shrub-dominated ecosystems applies organic matter and nutrients to rangeland soils in the form of manure and waste hay. Given sufficient time, adding these critical components to the soil surface may help to foster the development of healthy, functional soils on rangelands with marginal soil and vegetation quality. Further, this practice may accelerate terrestrial carbon sequestration by enhancing primary productivity. To investigate the effects of this practice, we examined soil organic matter, infiltration, CO2 burst respiration, and vegetation cover on a landscape where this practice has been implemented each spring for more than a decade. Between 80 and 100 cow-calf pairs have been fed hay daily on this landscape for 10-16 days annually in May. By comparing vegetation and soil metrics on this landscape and a nearby control area exposed to grazing, but not supplemental feeding, the study will quantify the benefits of this practice and determine if it warrants expanded application. Final results are forthcoming, but practitioners indicate that the vegetation in this area has improved since the practice was implemented. The study will also establish a carbon monitoring protocol and baseline on a much larger landscape. This to facilitate future research concerning management decisions related to terrestrial carbon sequestration. In this way, the study can use a widely-applicable methodology to both address the chronic lack of baseline data that exists at the ranch level and examine a seemingly beneficial management practice with the potential for expanded application.

THE EFFECT OF POLYACRYLAMIDE RATE AND DEPTH ON SOIL WATER STORAGE AND SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT. Shannon V. Nelson*, Maria C. Valencia, Holly Black, Wyatt Petersen, Jeffrey D. Svedin, Neil C. Hansen, Matthew D. Madsen, Val J. Anderson, Bryan G. Hopkins; Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

ABSTRACT

Post-disturbance rangeland revegetation is hindered in areas of low precipitation facing invasion by annual grasses.  The invaders germinate earlier and deplete water resources available to native and introduced perennial species.  The use of polyacrylamide (PAM), a super absorbent polymer, is a possible solution because of its ability to hold water in the soil creating a potentially wider establishment window. Previous glasshouse studies indicated that PAM in bands in the soil increased the longevity of associated seedlings in drought conditions. The current study determined the optimal depth of PAM placement for water storage and seedling growth.  Bottlebrush squirreltail [Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey] seed was planted in 10 cm x 10 cm x 24 cm pots containing PAM at rates of 0, 1500, and 3000 kg ha-1 placed in a layer at 0, 2.5, 7.5, and 15 cm below the soil surface.  Relative to the control, the 7.5 and 15 cm depth PAM treatments increased the time with elevated soil moisture by 17 and 7 days, respectively. At the high PAM rate applied at the 7.5 and 15 cm depths the seedling longevity increased by 15 and 11%, respectively. Seedling height was significantly affected by both PAM rate and depth, with a 7% increase at the 1500 kg ha-1 rate at the 2.5 cm depth and a 15% increase at the 3000 kg ha-1 rate at the 7.5 cm depth.  The number of blades per seedling was significantly influenced by rate, but not depth, with an 18% increase in blade number at the high rate, but the low rate produced an 8% decrease on day 77 after saturation. These data suggest that PAM has potential to improve seedling establishment in revegetation activities.

BUILDING PASTORALISTS’ RESILIENCE: STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE INSTITUTIONS IN TUNISIA. Mounir Louhaichi*¹, Jutta Werner², Slim Slim³, Slim Jarradi⁴; ¹International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Amman, Jordan, ²International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Tunis, Tunisia, ³School of Higher Education in Agriculture of Mateur, University of Carthage, Mateur, Tunisia, ⁴Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Tunis, Tunisia

ABSTRACT

Rangeland resources are among the most important – and almost certainly the most neglected – agro ecosystem component in dry areas. They are the largest land-use category, home to the poorest segment of the population, and crucial for millions of small-scale livestock producers. For many decades, these pastoral areas have been continuously deteriorating, with reductions recorded from 6.1 million hectares in 2005 to 5.5 million hectares in 2012. Managing rangelands sustainably presents a complex challenge for communities that depend on rangelands for their livelihoods, and for local authorities and policymakers who regulate land use. The current civil legislation in Tunisia does not effectively support the needs of the common rangelands. In fact, most rangelands (67 %) are not covered by the current forestry code. In order to tackle the fragile and extremely complex processes of policy change related to common rangelands, a participatory approach involving all concerned stakeholders from pastoralists, local and government authorities to non-governmental organizations and marginal groups was employed to update the current forestry code in Tunisia. The objective is to come up with an updated forestry code that ensure that the management of rangelands through local communities is formalized, regulated and protected by law, and that the roles of all stakeholders are clarified. To meet this objective a series of local and national workshops have been organized where all concerned actors are actively involved. This process may take up to 2 years before a new legislation approved by the general assembly is in place. The new pastoral code will ensure that the entire Tunisian nation benefits by reducing the embedded costs caused by rangeland degradation and through an enhanced negotiation culture related to common natural resources.

ASSESSMENT OF FORAGE UTILIZATION IN JICARILLA APACHE RANGE LANDS

Monitoring of rangeland grazing is crucial for its conservation, sustainability and ecosystem functions. The Jicarilla Apache Nation in Northern New Mexico has 879,661 acres, primarily rangelands for cattle, sheep, horse and wild life grazing. The primary objective of this study is to assess and compare forage utilization data collected in 2010 and 2017. Moderate levels of grazing intensity are correlated with soil stability, forage production, wildlife habitat, and diversity of native plants. Heights of ungrazed and grazed range forage species were measured to determine average utilization percentage. Cages were established in each of the 120 range units to determine ungrazed height. Grazed forage height data, 20 replications spaced 10 meter apart, along a transact were converted to percent of weight utilized by means of Utilization Gauge, which was developed from height-weight relationship curves. Forage utilization percentage data for 120 range units, three range use types, and 10 forage species were analyzed using GLM procedure in SAS. Results indicated that average forage utilization percentage ranged from 9 to 64 on summer ranges, 7 to 48 on winter ranges and 4 to 62 on continuous (year round use) ranges. Range units with Crested Wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and Western Wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) were heavily utilized (> 50%) and have major soil erosion implications. Average utilization percentage ranged from 21 to 58 for crested wheatgrass, 9 to 63 for Blue Grama and 5 to 62 for Western Wheatgrass. Other grasses such as Squirrel tail (Elymus elymoides), Galleta (Pleuraphis jamesii), and Alkali Sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) were utilized only 11 to 28%. Regression models to calculate optimum animal unit months were developed.

ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF TRADITIONAL HARVEST ON COMMON CAMAS POPULATIONS IN A SEASONALLY WET PRAIRIE. Devin Stucki*, Ron Reuter, Tom Rodhouse; Oregon State University, Bend, OR

Common camas (Camassia quamash [Pursh] Greene) has been a staple food source of many indigenous peoples of western North America for thousands of years. Camas is a facultative wetland species that is strongly associated with seasonally wet prairies and once widespread populations have declined mainly due to the conversion of wetlands for agriculture. Restoration of camas prairies is necessary to counter the loss of habitat. Traditional camas bulb digging and harvesting has been thought to stimulate growth and increase plant densities. This study will assess how digging and harvesting of camas bulbs, as well as burning, affect camas populations in Weippe Prairie, Idaho. A total of 50 permanent plots (1 m2) were established in Weippe Prairie, with each plot receiving one of four treatments: digging, digging and burning, burning, and control. The plots were observed for changes of trend in camas plant densities, camas flowering stem densities, seedling densities, and ground cover. Preliminary results show that digging and harvesting camas bulbs does cause an immediate reduction in flowering camas plants, but this reduction is disproportionately less than the number of bulbs removed. Further monitoring of these experimental plots will help to characterize the long-term effects of traditional camas harvest and the utility of harvest for restoration purposes.  

YIELD AND NUTRITIVE QUALITY OF HEDYSARUM CORONARIUM ACROSS THREE DIFFERENT AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES OF NORTHERN TUNISIA. Slim Slim¹, Lamia Harbeg¹, Sawsan Hassan², Hloniphani Peter Moyo², Serkan Ates³, Mounir Louhaichi*²; ¹School of Higher Education in Agriculture of Mateur, University of Carthage, Mateur, Tunisia, ²International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Amman, Jordan, ³Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.)  is commonly included in the cropping system as a short-rotation forage crop (one to three years) in northern Tunisia. Thus, this study compared DM production and nutritive value of sulla stands of different ages (one, two and three year-old stands) across three agro-climatic zones in northern Tunisia [North (>600 mm), NW (500 - 550 mm) and NE (<500 mm)] to identify the optimum rotation length from forage production and quality standpoints. Soil organic matter, mineral content and pH were similar across all three regions. The average of the DM yield is 6.10, 7.47 and 9.88 t DM/ha in NW, N and NE regions, respectively. Three-year old sulla stand had the greatest DM yield (14.53 t DM /ha) in the NE region, while the DM yield of three-year old stand in NW was the least (4.74 t DM/ha). The ADF and NDF concentrations for the three year-old stand in NE region had the highest value (32.3 % and 59.5 %, respectively). Three-year old sulla stand in the NW region had the lowest NDF concentration (40.7%) and the greatest CP content (17.6 % DM). The results revealed that sulla had the greatest DM yield in its third year, regardless of the region, indicating that the sulla phase of the rotation should be at least three years for optimum forage production. The NE region has a long-standing tradition of incorporating sulla in crop rotations, explaining the higher yields in that region, compared to other regions with higher rainfall. Keywords:  Sulla; years of cultivation; qualitative analysis; soil analysis; rhizobium

EFFECTS OF WATER AND NITROGEN ADDITION ON COMMUNITY PRODUCTIVITY INDRY MIXED GRASS PRARIE . Ruiyang Zhang¹, Michael P. Schellenberg*²; ¹Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Peoples Republic, ²Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current, SK

This work highlights the response of plant community to two important limited-resources: water and nitrogen (N) in Dry Mixed Grass Prairie Ecoregion. The field study with a randomized complete block design in Swift Current Research and Development Centre (SCRDC) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) examined the effects of water and N addition on the aboveground biomass for grass, non-grass plants and plant community. This poster reports the data collected in 2016 (May to October precipitation: 523.1mm). In this study, water treatments included one control (natural precipitation) and two water supplementation from May to August (supplying 15% and 30% of the monthly precipitation). The N addition treatment was supplied with 28.6g/m² NH4NO3 (10g/m² N) at the end of May. Aboveground biomass of grass increased 91.9% and aboveground biomass of plant community increased 88.9% with N addition. Under N addition treatment, aboveground biomass of grasses and plant community was improved 32.0% and 36.1% with supplying water (30% of the monthly precipitation), respectively. However, no significant differences were detected for aboveground biomass of non-grass plant among different water treatments and N addition treatment. Consequently, under the climate conditions with excess precipitation, the effect of water supplementation is weak on grasses and non-grass plants. In addition, the response of grasses to N addition was more sensitive than that of non-grass plants. The N addition with sufficient soil moisture can effectively improve the productivity of plant community in Dry Mixed Grass Prairie Ecoregion.

RANGELAND WATER FACILITIES AND IMPACTS ON SPECIES RICHNESS. Byron A. Munda*; Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ

ABSTRACT

Do Rangeland water facilities such as earthen tanks affect vegetation species composition?  

WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS ACROSS PUBLIC GRAZING LANDS ON THE SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST. Rebecca K. Ozeran*¹, Claire Neal², Kelsey DeRose³, Kenneth W. Tate³; ¹University of California Cooperative Extension, Fresno, CA, ²University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, ³University of California, Davis, Davis, CA

Livestock grazing is one potential contributor to non-point source contamination of water bodies, and is commonly assumed to reduce water quality. In some cases, cessation of grazing activities is proposed in areas with impaired water quality. However, recent research in California has shown that grazing can be a land use compatible with state and federal water quality requirements. Escherichia coli (E. coli), a common fecal bacterium, is used as an indicator of microbial water quality and risk to human health. We quantified E. coli concentrations throughout the Willow Creek watershed of the Sierra National Forest in Madera County, California, to characterize E. coli concentrations in the watershed and assess whether current land uses are compatible with state and federal water quality requirements. Twenty-one sampling locations were identified by their primary association to one of three primary land use activities in the watershed: public recreation areas, federal public grazing areas, and rural residential areas. Sampling was conducted during July and August, to capture peak human and livestock use of the watershed. Water samples were collected weekly from each of these sampling locations and E. coli concentration determinations were completed within 6 ± 1 hours of collection, following established protocols. Preliminary results indicate that these multiple land uses are compatible in the Sierra National Forest under current management protocols, as E. coli concentrations were below the EPA threshold for recreational water use in 97% of our samples.

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO SOIL WATER AVAILABILITY DIFFER BETWEEN PARTIALLY TOP-KILLED AND UNTREATED MESQUITES. Caitlyn E. Cooper*¹, Tian Zhang¹, Jim Ansley²; ¹Texas A&M AgriLife Research - Vernon, Vernon, TX, ²Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK

ABSTRACT

It is widely known that various brush treatments can trigger alterations in tree morphology. However, less is known about associated changes in physiology under these treatments and how that may affect how follow up treatments should be applied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine how leaf-level stress indicators [gas exchange (photosynthesis (A), transpiration (E) and stomatal conductance (gs)) and pressure-volume parameters] in mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) are affected by leaf area reductions caused by partial-top killing from aerial spraying with a mixture of clopyralid and triclopyr (10.7 oz + 8 oz ac-1). Leaf-level responses were measured monthly in summer 2017 in untreated control trees and individuals treated in 2007 and 2014. Rainfall prevented August pressure-volume measurements. Gas exchange measurements were taken at 900, 1200, and 1500 hr. On average, treated individuals had 22, 21, and 27% greater A, E, and gs, respectively, than untreated individuals. Gas exchange rates decreased from June to July and remained low in August. Daily average A decreased from 23.6 µmol CO m-2 s-1 in June to 14.2 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1 in August. From June to July, osmotic potential at full turgor (ΠFT), turgor loss point (ΠTLP), and leaf bulk modulus of elasticity (ε) decreased by 11, 14, and 17%, respectively. However, capacitance at full turgor (CFT) and turgor loss point (CTLP) were unchanged. Results suggest that treated trees have a greater capacity for gas exchange which may result from alterations to the leaf:root area ratio or leaf:sapwood area ratio, and subsequent changes to water availability. Leaf-level gas exchange and pressure-volume characteristics appear to be coordinated and results suggest that mesquite utilizes osmotic adjustment to maintain gas exchange during times of low soil moisture availability. These findings are fundamental to understanding mesquite success following partial top-kill and will help guide future treatments.

HUISACHE (ACACIA FARNESIANA) SEEDLING COTYLEDON HEIGHT AND RESPROUTING ABILITY