Wheat Crops and Native Prairie in Relation to the Nutritional Ecology of Camnula pellucida (Scudder) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Saskatchewan

1963 ◽  
Vol 95 (7) ◽  
pp. 764-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pickford
Keyword(s):  
Dominant Role ◽  
Nutritional Ecology ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Field Cage ◽  
Agropyron Smithii ◽  
Native Prairie ◽  
Prairie Grasses ◽  
Complete Life Cycle ◽  
Stipa Comata ◽  
Mixed Prairie

AbstractField cage experiments conducted through the complete life cycle of Camnula pellucida (Scudder) demonstrated that wheat, the major cereal crop grown in Saskatchewan, played the dominant role in the nutritional ecology of this grasshopper. A native sod mixture, comprising Stipa comata, Bouteloua gracilis, Agropyron smithii, and Carex eleocharis, four of the dominant species of the mixed prairie association, was consistently unfavourable during all stages of grasshopper growth and development. Grasshoppers reared on wheat survived better, were considerably larger and laid up to 20 times more eggs than those reared on the native prairie grasses. The presence of the native sod with wheat contributed nothing nutritionally to the food combination. The unfavourable qualities of the native grasses, although resulting in small adults, low fecundity and small pods, did not affect the hatchability of eggs laid or the development and survival of nymphs that hatched from them.

EXPERIMENTS WITH SOME NATIVE AND INTRODUCED PLANTS AS FOODS FOR CAMNULA PELLUCIDA (SCUDD.) (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE) IN WESTERN CANADA

1962 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. Putnam
Keyword(s):  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Field Cage ◽  
Agropyron Elongatum ◽  
Agropyron Smithii ◽  
Introduced Plants ◽  
Percentage Survival ◽  
Elymus Canadensis

In field cage experiments, 17 native and introduced grasses and a native sedge, grown in pure culture, differed in their effect on the growth, survival and rate of population increase of the clear-winged grasshopper, Camnula pellucida. In terms of eggs deposited, Festuca rubra permitted a 24-lold population increase in a 1-year test; in tests repeated in 2 consecutive years, Agropyron elongatum, A. cristatum, Elymus junceus, Poa pratensis and P. compressa produced average annual increases of 10- to 18-fold; A. intermedium, A. dasystachyum, A. trachycaulum var. typicum, A. riparium, Poa ampla, and Bromus inermis, 3- to 8-fold. Agropyron smithii, Elymus canadensis, Stipa spartea, S. viridula, Bouteloua gracilis and Carex stenophylla var. enervis (1 year’s results), 2-fold or less. Percentage survival to the adult stage, rate of development, and apparently, robustness, were all positively correlated with population increase, but not strongly.

IMPROVEMENT OF SOUTHEASTERN ALBERTA RANGE WITH FERTILIZERS

1967 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 671-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Johnston ◽  
S. Smoliak ◽  
A. D. Smith ◽  
L. E. Lutwick
Keyword(s):  
Total Yield ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Vegetation Changes ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Agropyron Smithii ◽  
Artemisia Frigida ◽  
Hordeum Jubatum ◽  
Mixed Prairie ◽  
Prairie Vegetation

Mixed Prairie vegetation in fair condition was fertilized with various rates of P, N, and NP. Rates of application by an increasing-rate spreader were: low, 10–185 kg/ha N, 10–155 kg/ha P; medium, 375–705 kg/ha N, 300–550 kg/ha P; and high, 870–1095 kg/ha N, and 680–820 kg/ha P. Total yield increased as a result of all fertilizer treatments. Palatability of fertilized vegetation was increased. Character of vegetation, unchanged by low rates, was changed by medium and high rates of N and NP. Bouteloua gracilis (HBK.) Lag., Stipa comata Trin. and Rupr., Koeleria cristata (L.) Pers., and Selaginella densa Rydb. decreased; Agropyron smithii Rydb., A. dasystachyum (Hook.) Scribn., and Artemisia frigida Willd. increased; and fertilized plots were invaded by Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb, Chenopodium leptophyllum Nutt., and Hordeum jubatum L. Fertilizer application increased rangeland production by about 300% at low rates and about 900% at high rates; the latter were accompanied by major vegetation changes. Since long-term effects of vegetation changes are unknown, only low rates of fertilizer application, which had little effect on the vegetation, can be recommended.

Tebuthiuron Effects on Artemisia Spp. and Associated Grasses

Weed Science ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas D. Whitson ◽  
Harold P. Alley
Keyword(s):  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Agropyron Smithii ◽  
Big Sagebrush ◽  
Western Wheatgrass ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Stipa Comata ◽  
Gutierrezia Sarothrae ◽  
Opuntia Polyacantha

Tebuthiuron {N-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-N,N′-dimethylurea} was evaluated on three Wyoming soil types for control of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.), silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana Pursh.), and phytotoxic effects on associated vegetation. Big sagebrush was controlled with tebuthiuron at application rates of 0.6 to 1.1 kg ai/ha, whereas silver sagebrush was not completely controlled. Prairie junegrass [Koeleria pyramidata (Cam.) Beauv.], western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii Rydb. ♯3 AGRSM), needleandthread (Stipa comata Trin. ♯ STDCO), and green needlegrass (Stipa viritdula Trin. ♯ STOVI) were not significantly reduced with tebuthiuron up to 1.1 kg ai/ha. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis H.B.K. ♯ BOBGR), downy brome (Bromus tectorum L. ♯ BROTE), plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha Haw. ♯ OPUPO), and broom snakeweed [Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh.) Britt. and Rugsby, ♯ GUESA] were tolerant to tebuthiuron at rates up to 1.1 kg ai/ha.

PERSISTENCE OF CHANGES IN SELECTED SOIL CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AFTER PIPELINE INSTALLATION IN SOLONETZIC NATIVE RANGELAND

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 747-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. NAETH ◽  
A. W. BAILEY ◽  
W. B. McGILL
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Chemical Changes ◽  
Ecosystem Responses ◽  
Native Prairie ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Mixed Prairie

A study was conducted in Solonetzic mixed prairie of southern Alberta to evaluate and determine the longevity of selected ecosystem responses to pipeline installation. Five adjacent natural gas pipelines on a series of rights-of-way (ROW) were studied at three sites. The lines, which were installed in 1957, 1963, 1968, 1972 and 1981, had diameters of 86, 86, 91, 107 and 107 cm, respectively. Soils were analyzed for particle size distribution, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, ion composition, and organic matter content. It was concluded that pipeline construction in Solonetzic mixed prairie range-land initially tended to improve surface soil chemical and physical properties compared to blowouts, but reduced soil quality in vegetated native prairie. Surface bulk density increased to 1.3–1.6 Mg m−3 from an undisturbed density of 0.9–1.0 Mg m−3. Increased densities were evident to 55 cm in all 1981 transects except the trench where subsurface densities were reduced. Chemical changes were associated with reduced organic matter and increased salts at the surface. On the basis of differences between the various ages of pipelines (1981, youngest; 1957, oldest) there was evidence for greater amelioration of chemical changes than of physical disturbances over time. The time needed to restore half the lost organic matter was estimated to be approximately 50 y. Key words: Pipeline, Solonetzic soil, rangeland (native), soil chemistry, bulk density, reclamation

Slope, aspect, and slope position as factors controlling grassland communities in the coulees of the Oldman River, Alberta

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 1371-1378 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. J. Lieffers ◽  
P. A. Larkin-Lieffers
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Artemisia Frigida ◽  
Energy Aspect ◽  
Koeleria Macrantha ◽  
Stipa Comata ◽  
Direct Ordination ◽  
Oldman River

Vegetation and environmental variables were examined in some coulees of the Oldman River near Lethbridge, Alta. Principal components analysis of environmental variables indicated that solar energy, aspect, soil Mg2+, [Formula: see text], and moisture were related to the first axis of variation. Slope position, soil [Formula: see text], moisture, K+, [Formula: see text], and amount of bare ground were related to a second axis of variation. There was a large range in species diversity among plots; most diverse plots were on north-facing slopes. Direct ordination of vegetation data indicated that slope position and aspect were most important in describing distribution of species. Koeleria macrantha, Bouteloua gracilis, Stipa comata, and Artemisia frigida were found on most coulee positions. Hymenoxys richardsonii, Machaeranthera grindeloides, Astragalus spatulatus, and Eriogonum flavum were mostly restricted to summit and upper slope positions. Anemone patens, Geum triflorum, Thermopsis rhombifolia, and others were most abundant on north- and east-facing slopes. Fewer species (e.g., the C4 Aristida longiseta and the cactus Coryphantha vivipara) were mostly confined to south-facing positions.

Production characteristics of the mixed prairie: constraints and potential

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Willms ◽  
P. G. Jefferson
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Mixed Prairie

The mixed prairie represents the most arid region of the Northern Great Plains in Canada. Approximately 6.5 M ha of the original total of 24 M ha have retained their native character. The native prairie supports about 5.3 M animal–unit–months or about 15% of all beef cattle present on the Canadian prairies. A large portion of the area is dominated by either needle-and-thread (Stipa comata Trin. + Rupr.) or western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii Rydb.), both cool season grasses, and associated with blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.] a warm season grass. These species define the major plant communities of the mixed prairie and determine their production potential. However, their production is limited by available water during the growing season and by soil nutrients; factors which also influence their species composition. Grazing imposes a significant impact on the grasslands by altering the water and nutrient cycles, through defoliation and reduced plant litter, and eventually by affecting the species composition. Removing litter may reduce forage production by up to 60% and repeated defoliation will favour the more drought tolerant but less productive species. Forage production may be increased by seeding introduced species, which have a greater shoot to root ratio than native grasses, or with fertilizer application. Livestock production may be increased with the use of grazing systems. However, the benefits of each practice on the mixed prairie must be assessed in terms of their cost, their impact on the environment, and the reduced or lost value for other users. Key words: Biomass, above-ground, below-ground, water-use efficiency, reseeding, soil fertility, grazing efficiency

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