Date of Award

2011

Publisher

North Dakota State University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Awarded

Master of Science (MS)

Program

Natural Resources Management

Department

Natural Resources Management

College

Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty Advisor

DeKeyser, Edward S.

Description

Degraded pasture and rangelands are becoming increasingly present in southeastern North Dakota and throughout the Northern Great Plains. Problems associated with degraded pasture and rangelands include loss of biodiversity, increased invasive species, reduced forage quality for cattle, loss of wildlife habitat, and reduced soil stability when compared to a healthy, functioning native prairie ecosystem. In an attempt to reverse this trend, three studies were conducted looking at a variety of different management techniques, all aimed to improve the overall health of degraded pasture and rangelands in southeastern North Dakota. The first study analyzed bum season and frequency, replicated in both grazed and ungrazed plots, to determine the most effective burning treatment for the control and reduction of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and smooth brome (Bromus inermis). At this point in the study there have only been two seasons of data collected, but initial results indicate that summer burning, regardless of frequency, is the most effective treatment at reducing Kentucky bluegrass cover. Smooth brome cover has not been reduced using any of the treatments except grazing, resulting in a reduction of its cover compared to ungrazed. The second study was an interseeding trial that analyzed a variety of different pre-seeding treatments including burning, herbicide, seeding only, and a bum herbicide combination. This was the initial year of the trial so results were limited to seedling establishment Herbicide treatment, both in combination with burning and as a single treatment, resulted in the highest overall seedling establishment, but overall treatment success cannot be determined without additional years of community level data. The third and final study analyzed the impact of a patch burn grazing system on disturbed northern tallgrass rangeland. At this point in the study, findings have not indicated a plant community level change under the patch burn grazing management system, but above average moisture may be contributing to the subdued results.

Rights

NDSU policy 190.6.2

Rights Link

https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf

Handle Identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/10365/33236

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