GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT
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World-wide Grassland Distribution
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United States Grassland Distribution Prairie
Continuum Model
Mixedgrass Prairie
Shortgrass Prairie
Tallgrass Prairie
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WEST VIRGINIA HAYFIELDS AND PASTURES
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PLANTED GRASSLANDS
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IMPORTANCE OF GRASSLANDS
260 Breeding Bird Species 28-32 Endemic Species
125-150 Mammal Species 30 Endemic Prairie
Species
Reptiles, Amphibians, Invertebrates
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GRASSLAND BIRDSSpecies Richness
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GRASSLAND BIRDSAbundance Trends
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GRASS TYPES
Cool Season (C3) and Warm Season (C4) Grasses
Cool Season Produce most growth during spring
and late Fall (active shoot growth 40-42F (4-5C)
Warm-Season Biomass produced in summer
(60-65F) (15-18C) (optimum 85F)
Warm Seasons survive and adapt better to high
water stress, high temperature, low carbon
dioxide concentrations, high irradiance, high
oxygen, drought
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MANAGING HAYFIELDSFor Grassland Birds Mowing
Maintain small patches for cover and feeding
(areas of high activity)
Rotate early and late-mowed fields
Defer mowing (until after July 15) not practical
for intensive hay mowing
Flushing bars
Avoid nighttime mowing (roosting birds)
Raise mower blades 6 inches
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Strip Mowing
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MANAGING HAYFIELDSFor Grassland Birds Burning
Burn in early Spring (mid-March --
April) Increase densities 1-2 years after burn
Rotate burned portions of large fields (100
acres) over 2- 6 year period. 20-40 annually
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BURNING
Fire controls woody vegetation because
Regrowth rapid (seed prod. lt 1 yr) slow (seed
prod. gt1 yr.)
Biomass 1-2 yrs growth many yrs.
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BURNING
Controls woody vegetation
Removes litter
Increases grass/forb production
Releases nutrients
Reduces shading
Increases germination
Controls undesirable grass species
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FIRE PRESCRIPTIONS
Frequency/timing varies with
Objectives
Wind Speed
Soil Moisture
Vegetation Moisture
Density/Size of Woody Plants
Humidity
Fuel Load
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FIRE PRESCRIPTIONS
Seasonal Timing Spring versus Fall
Many exotics controlled by spring burns
Warm-Season Grasses favored by late spring burns
Forbs spring burns may decrease
Cool-Season grasses control with early spring
burns
Vary burn times
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GRASS TYPES
Cool Season (C3) and Warm Season (C4) Grasses
Cool Season Produce most growth during spring
and late Fall (active shoot growth 40-42F (4-5C)
Warm-Season Biomass produced in summer
(60-65F) (15-18C) (optimum 85F)
Warm Seasons survive and adapt better to high
water stress, high temperature, low carbon
dioxide concentrations, high irradiance, high
oxygen, drought
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COOL SEASON GRASSES
Timothy
Kentucky Bluegrass
Orchard Grass
K31 Fescue
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WARM SEASON GRASSES
Indian Grass
Big Bluestem
Little Bluestem
Switchgrass
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WARM SEASON GRASSES
Seed Mix 3-15 pounds pure live seed/acre 30
pure live seeds/square foot
Seed Bed Preparation Nonselective Herbicide
(roundup) Cultivate Plant Annual Crop Repeat
as Needed
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GRAZING MANAGEMENT
H.winter D. spring /summer L.fall
Defer yearlong
Winter thermal nesting
Mod. yearlong
Loafing feeding dusting
Feeding dusting
Light summer/fall defer winter
Loafing feeding dusting
Mod. yearlong
Spring/summer nesting habitat
H.winter D. spring /summer L.fall
Feeding dusting
Feeding fall cover
Heavy spring /summer
Heavy spring /summer
Feeding fall cover
Defer yearlong
Winter thermal nesting
Habitat Features
Grazing Strategy
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LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENTCONCERNS
Species Minimum size (Acres) Bobolink 5
Eastern Meadowlark 15
Savannah Sparrow 20
Grasshopper Sparrow 30
Vesper Sparrow 30
Upland Sandpiper 150