Recovery of ponderosa pine-bunchgrass ranges through grazing and herbicide or fertilizer treatments

Abstract

Protection from grazing, alternate rest, or seasonal spring or fall grazing did not promote recovery of pine-bunchgrass range in Colorado which had been grazed heavily for more than 23 years. Application of 2,4-D herbicide or NPK fertilizer significantly changed vegetative composition and increased herbage yields of these rangelands under all grazing treatments. The herbicide reduced competition from forbs and permitted the grass species to increase in basal area and produce more herbage than plants on unsprayed, unfertilized control plots. Addition of NPK fertilizer stimulated production of all species and increased yields an average of 500 lb per acre. A combination fertilizer-herbicide treatment increased average yields a comparable amount, with the increase coming mostly from grasses and a few forbs not killed by the herbicide.

Citation

Currie, Pat O. 1976. Recovery of ponderosa pine-bunchgrass ranges through grazing and herbicide or fertilizer treatments. Journal of Range Management 29(6): 444-448.