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3 March 2021 Effective Management Practices for Increasing Native Plant Diversity on Mesquite Savanna-Texas Wintergrass-Dominated Rangelands
Darrel B. Murray, James P. Muir, Michael S. Miller, Devin R. Erxleben, Kevin D. Mote
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Abstract

Throughout the Rolling Plains and Cross Timbers ecoregions of Texas, native grassland plant communities have been converted into low-diversity plant communities by long-term, intensive overgrazing by cattle and fire suppression. Much of the historical plant community has become dominated by annuals, Texas wintergrass (Nassella leucotricha), and honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa). This degradation has been so severe that many native bird species, including Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), have experienced drastic population declines. We conducted a small-plot study to determine effective management actions for transforming mesquite savanna–Texas wintergrass communities to diverse native plant communities supportive of native wildlife species. We tested multiple management practices following mechanical mesquite brush removal, including seeding, timed treatments of herbicide, prescribed burns, and high-intensity, short-duration cattle grazing. Results indicated that plots receiving early spring treatments of herbicide followed by burning and grazing over 2 consecutive yr best reduced cool-season grasses and promoted overall restoration goals by increasing native warm-season grass and forb establishment.

© 2021 The Society for Range Management. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Darrel B. Murray, James P. Muir, Michael S. Miller, Devin R. Erxleben, and Kevin D. Mote "Effective Management Practices for Increasing Native Plant Diversity on Mesquite Savanna-Texas Wintergrass-Dominated Rangelands," Rangeland Ecology and Management 75(1), 161-169, (3 March 2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.01.001
Received: 6 August 2020; Accepted: 6 January 2021; Published: 3 March 2021
KEYWORDS
grassland restoration
herbicides
honey mesquite
prescribed burns
savanna
Texas wintergrass
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