scholarly journals Effects of annual burning on grassland in the aspen parkland of east-central Alberta

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 985-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard G. Anderson ◽  
Arthur W. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Prunus Virginiana ◽  
East Central ◽  
Aspen Parkland ◽  
Calamovilfa Longifolia ◽  
Cool Season Grass

Annual early spring burning has markedly altered the physiognomy and species composition of aspen parkland vegetation of east-central Alberta. Burning was conducted in April for at least 24 years when soil moisture was normally high. The number of herbaceous species per quadrat doubled while a number of woody species declined slightly. Forest cover declined while grassland increased. In the grass and shrublands, cover of the shrub Symphoricarpos occidentalis and the cool season grass Festuca scabrella declined greatly. Major increases in Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex obtusata, C. heliophylla, and Solidago missouriensis were noted. While the cover of Festuca scabrella and Stipa spartea var. curtiseta decreased; frequency of these species increased. Cover of all shrubs decreased, Populus tremuloides suckers excepted, while density of the fire adapted Elaeagnus commutata, Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana, and Populus tremuloides suckers increased. Burning reduced the leaf blade length of all major grasses and sedges. Effect of burning on inflorescence production varied from species to species. Annual herbage production was reduced by burning with the grass and sedge component experiencing about a 50% reduction. Burning caused an increase in organic matter and phosphorus content of the Ah horizon. Burning did not appear to detrimentally affect the nitrogen status of the Ah horizon.

scholarly journals Effect of vegetation suppression on the establishment of sod-seeded alfalfa in the Aspen Parkland

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 1349-1358 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. G. Bowes ◽  
R. P. Zentner
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Populus Balsamifera ◽  
Forage Grasses ◽  
Smooth Bromegrass ◽  
East Central ◽  
Aspen Parkland ◽  
Forage Yields

Four trials were conducted on a heavily grazed bluegrass-dominated pasture located in east-central Saskatchewan to compare the establishment of alfalfa (Medicago media Pers. Drylander) and forage grasses with no suppression vs. suppression of the resident vegetation using either glyphosate or rotovation. Successful forage establishment was based on seedling count, herbage yield and an economic assessment using net present value. The test area had been cleared of mature aspen poplar (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) trees, treated with 2,4-D to control suckering and was subsequently invaded by native forbs and grasses, mainly bluegrasses. Alfalfa successfully established with or without suppression while smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss. ’Carlton’) established only when a suppression treatment was applied. Forage yields, averaged over 4 yr and four trials, following sod-seeding and glyphosate at 2.5 kg ha−1 were 1973 and 612 kg ha−1 for alfalfa and bluegrass plus smooth bromegrass, compared to 1287 and 748 kg ha−1 for alfalfa and bluegrass plus smooth bromegrass, respectively, when there was no suppression of the resident vegetation. The low-cost, no-suppression sod-seeding treatment was as profitable as the sod-seeding treatment using glyphosate.Key words: Sod-seed, zero till, alfalfa, smooth bromegrass, economics, glyphosate

Temperature-related shifts in soluble carbohydrate content during dormancy and cold acclimation in Populus tremuloides

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 730-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel E Cox ◽  
Cecil Stushnoff
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Cold Acclimation ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Soluble Sugars ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry

Changes in metabolism that accompany cold acclimation and deacclimation, such as increasing levels of raffinose family oligosacharides (RFO) during cold acclimation demonstrated in several woody species, are of interest in a search for genetic control of environmental adaptation by cold-hardy woody plants. This study examined the relationship of temperature to endodormancy and cold hardiness in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) buds collected at 1560, 2250, and 2900 m elevation near Fort Collins, Colo. Buds from all sites tolerated at least –85°C in December, and buds from 2900 m, the highest elevation, hardened most quickly in fall and retained their hardiness the longest in late winter and early spring. Exposure to liquid nitrogen caused bud break in normally endodormant (15 November collection date) buds. RFO levels were highly correlated to low temperature during acclimation and to lowest survival temperatures. Endogenous raffinose and stachyose increased as temperatures dropped in early winter and diminished as temperatures rose in spring. Arrhenius plots showed that raffinose accumulation was strongly low-temperature dependent during acclimation. Its loss, while also temperature dependant in spring, was not as pronounced as during fall acclimation. Buds from all three sites survived cryopreservation at –196°C when first prefrozen at 5°C/h and stored >4 h at –20°C or colder. Differential scanning calorimetry data suggest that an aqueous component froze separately from tissues that underwent a glass transition in buds that survived cryopreservation. This study documents a complete dormant season hardiness profile of aspen linking hardiness with changes in endogenous soluble sugars.

Control of aspen poplar, balsam poplar, prickly rose and western snowberry with metsulfuron-methyl and 2,4-D

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 885-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. G. Bowes ◽  
D. T. Spurr
Keyword(s):  
Woody Species ◽  
East Central ◽  
Balsam Poplar ◽  
Metsulfuron Methyl ◽  
Untreated Area ◽  
Aspen Parkland ◽  
Key Word

Aspen poplar, balsam poplar, prickly rose and western snowberry species grow together in pastures of the aspen parkland and reduce the grass and forb production available for grazing. Two 7-yr studies were conducted in east central Saskatchewan to evaluate metsulfuron-methyl (metsulfuron), 2,4-D and a mixture of metsulfuron + 2,4-D for the long-term control of these woody species. Metsulfuron applied at 60 g a.i. ha−1 effectively controlled the four woody species for 7 yr. Control was not improved when 2,4-D at 2 kg a.i. ha−1 was added to the 60 g ha−1 rate of metsulfuron. Aspen poplar control was improved when sucker regrowth was 2-yr old rather than 3-yr old. Grass and forb production was increased 50% from 1023 kg ha−1 in the untreated areas to 1619 kg ha−1 following application of 60 g ha−1 metsulfuron in two experiments averaged over 5 yr. Forbs production decreased from 44% on the untreated area to 8% on areas treated with metsulfuron. Key word: Aspen poplar, balsam poplar, prickly rose, western snowberry, metsulfuron-methyl, 2,4-D

scholarly journals Protective Role of Ice Barriers: How Reproductive Organs of Early Flowering and Mountain Plants Escape Frost Injuries

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1031
Author(s):  
Clara Bertel ◽  
Jürgen Hacker ◽  
Gilbert Neuner
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Early Flowering ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
Species Vulnerability ◽  
Infrared Video

In the temperate zone of Europe, plants flowering in early spring or at high elevation risk that their reproductive organs are harmed by episodic frosts. Focusing on flowers of two mountain and three early-flowering colline to montane distributed species, vulnerability to ice formation and ice management strategies using infrared video thermography were investigated. Three species had ice susceptible flowers and structural ice barriers, between the vegetative and reproductive organs, that prevent ice entrance from the frozen stems. Structural ice barriers as found in Anemona nemorosa and Muscari sp. have not yet been described for herbaceous species that of Jasminum nudiflorum corroborates findings for woody species. Flowers of Galanthus nivalis and Scilla forbesii were ice tolerant. For all herbs, it became clear that the soil acts as a thermal insulator for frost susceptible below ground organs and as a thermal barrier against the spread of ice between individual flowers and leaves. Both ice barrier types presumably promote that the reproductive organs can remain supercooled, and can at least for a certain time-period escape from effects of ice formation. Both effects of ice barriers appear significant in the habitat of the tested species, where episodic freezing events potentially curtail the reproductive success.

PSXIII-2 Effect of varying proportions of cereal rye and turnip on ruminal fermentation and methane output through in vitro batch culture

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 461-461
Author(s):  
Jordan L Cox-O’Neill ◽  
Vivek Fellner ◽  
Alan J Franluebbers ◽  
Deidre D Harmon ◽  
Matt H Poore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methane Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Variable Response ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Cool Season Grass

Abstract Ruminant animal performance has been variable in studies grazing annual cool-season grass and brassica monocultures and mixtures. There is little understanding of the fermentation mechanisms causing variation. The aim of this study was to determine apparent dry matter (DM) digestibility, methane, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration from different proportions of cereal rye (Secale cereal; R) and turnip (Brassica rapa L.; T) (0R:100T, 40R:60T, 60R:40T, and 100R:0T) via in vitro batch fermentation. Freeze-dried forage samples from an integrated crop-livestock study was assembled into the four treatments with a 50:50 leaf to root ratio for turnip. Measurements were made following a 48 hr fermentation with 2:1 buffer and ruminal fluid inoculum. Data were analyzed using Mixed Procedure of SAS with batch (replicate) and treatment (main effect) in the model; differences were declared at P ≤ 0.05, with tendencies declared at > 0.05 but < 0.10. Rumen apparent DM digestibility (26.8%; overall mean) was not different among treatments. Methane production was less (P < 0.01) with inclusion of turnip ranging from 774 nmol/ml for 0R:100T to 1416 nmol/ml for 100R:0T. Total VFA production, acetate to propionate ratio, acetate, and valerate were not affected by forage treatments (117 mM, 1.45, 39.84 mol/100 mol, and 7.86 mol/100 mol, respectively; overall mean). Propionate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate concentrations were greater and butyrate concentration less with greater (P < 0.01) proportions of rye in the mixture. No effect of R:T ratio on digestibility or total VFA production along with the observed differences in individual VFA concentration do not explain variable response in grazing animals. Additionally, methane production results indicate that grazing turnips could potentially reduce methane production and thus reduce ruminant livestock’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

scholarly journals Epichloë Endophyte Infection Rates and Alkaloid Content in Commercially Available Grass Seed Mixtures in Europe

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 498
Author(s):  
Jochen Krauss ◽  
Veronika Vikuk ◽  
Carolyn A. Young ◽  
Markus Krischke ◽  
Martin J. Mueller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Infected Seed ◽  
Toxic Alkaloids ◽  
Cool Season Grass ◽  
Epichloë Endophyte ◽  
Seed Mixtures

Fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë live symbiotically in cool season grass species and can produce alkaloids toxic to insects and vertebrates, yet reports of intoxication of grazing animals have been rare in Europe in contrast to overseas. However, due to the beneficial resistance traits observed in Epichloë infected grasses, the inclusion of Epichloë in seed mixtures might become increasingly advantageous. Despite the toxicity of fungal alkaloids, European seed mixtures are rarely tested for Epichloë infection and their infection status is unknown for consumers. In this study, we tested 24 commercially available seed mixtures for their infection rates with Epichloë endophytes and measured the concentrations of the alkaloids ergovaline, lolitrem B, paxilline, and peramine. We detected Epichloë infections in six seed mixtures, and four contained vertebrate and insect toxic alkaloids typical for Epichloë festucae var. lolii infecting Lolium perenne. As Epichloë infected seed mixtures can harm livestock, when infected grasses become dominant in the seeded grasslands, we recommend seed producers to test and communicate Epichloë infection status or avoiding Epichloë infected seed mixtures.

scholarly journals Natural Regeneration of the Tree Stand in the Bilberry Spruce Forest—Clear-Cutting Ecotone Complex in the First Post-Logging Decade

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1542
Author(s):  
Nadezhda V. Genikova ◽  
Viktor N. Mamontov ◽  
Alexander M. Kryshen ◽  
Vladimir A. Kharitonov ◽  
Sergey A. Moshnikov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Clear Cutting

Bilberry spruce forests are the most widespread forest type in the European boreal zone. Limiting the clear-cuttings size leads to fragmentation of forest cover and the appearance of large areas of ecotone complexes, composed of forest (F), a transition from forest to the cut-over site under tree canopy (FE), a transition from forest to the cut-over site beyond tree canopy (CE), and the actual clear-cut site (C). Natural regeneration of woody species (spruce, birch, rowan) in the bilberry spruce stand—clear-cut ecotone complex was studied during the first decade after logging. The effects produced by the time since cutting, forest edge aspect, and the ground cover on the emergence and growth of trees and shrubs under forest canopy and openly in the clear-cut were investigated. Estimating the amount and size of different species in the regeneration showed FE and CE width to be 8 m—roughly half the height of first-story trees. Typical forest conditions (F) feature a relatively small amount of regenerating spruce and birch. The most favorable conditions for natural regeneration of spruce in the clear-cut—mature bilberry spruce stand ecotone are at the forest edge in areas of transition both towards the forest and towards the clear-cut (FE and CE). Clear-cut areas farther from the forest edge (C) offer an advantage to regenerating birch, which grows densely and actively in this area.

scholarly journals Impact of Overseeded Grass Species, Seeding Rate and Seeding Time on Establishment and Persistence in Bermudagrass

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Thomas Serensits ◽  
Matthew Cutulle ◽  
Jeffrey F. Derr
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Seeding Time ◽  
One Year ◽  
Cool Season Grass

Abstract Cool-season grass species are often overseeded into bermudagrass turf for both aesthetics and functionality during the winter months. When the overseeded grass persists beyond the spring, however, it becomes a weed. Experiments were conducted to evaluate overseeded grass species and seeding rate on turf cover during the fall, spring, and summer. The ability of perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, and hybrid bluegrass to then persist in bermudagrass one year after seeding was determined. Both perennial ryegrass and Italian ryegrass produced acceptable ground cover in the spring after fall seeding. Hybrid bluegrass did not establish well, resulting in unacceptable cover. Perennial ryegrass generally had the most persistence one year after seeding, either because of the survival of plants through the summer or because of new germination the following fall. The highest cover seen one year after seeding was 24% with perennial ryegrass in the 2005 trial. Maximum cover seen with Italian ryegrass and hybrid bluegrass 12 months after seeding was 19 and 8%, respectively. Seeding perennial or Italian ryegrass in February achieved acceptable cover in spring in the first trial but not the second. Persistence the following fall, however, was greater in the second trial, suggesting new germination. Percent cover 12 months after seeding tended to increase as the seeding rate increased, also suggesting new germination the following fall. Although quality is lower with Italian ryegrass compared to perennial ryegrass, it transitions out easier than perennial ryegrass, resulting in fewer surviving plants one year after fall seeding.

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