Data from: Mastication treatments increase perennial herbaceous cover across soil types in southeastern Colorado piñon-juniper woodlands
This study examines understory vegetation responses to mastication treatments across three soil types in piñon–juniper woodlands of southeast Colorado. Using paired treatment and control plots surveyed before and 1 and 3 years after treatment, results reveal how soil type and canopy position influence plant community composition following mastication.
Subject Tags
- Land management
- Ecosystem management
Summary
In this study we assessed vegetation responses to mastication treatments across three dominant soil types in two-needle piñon (Pinus edulis Engelm. [Pinaceae]) - one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma [Engelm.] Sarg.) woodlands in southeast Colorado, USA – a region characterized by monsoonal precipitation, limited presence of introduced plant species, and relatively high grazing intensity by cattle and wildlife. We surveyed understory species composition in the year prior to mastication (2018) as well as 1 (2019) and 3 years (2021) post-mastication. Fifteen sites were established, with paired treatment and control plots that measured 10 by 50 meters. The line point intercept method was used to survey ground cover and plant community composition across all years. Targeted sampling of understory plants also occurred in small quadrats in 2019 and 2021 under where canopy trees existed prior to mastication, on the edge of the tree canopy prior to mastication, and in the interspace.
Citation
Nigro, K. M., Bankston, T. Z., Demarest, A. B., Foster, A. C., Gonzalez, A. D., Hill, E. M., ... & Redmond, M. D. (2023). Mastication treatments increase perennial herbaceous cover across soil types in southeastern Colorado piñon-juniper woodlands. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 88, 28-38.
TNC Authors
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Rob Addington
Dir, Forest and Fire Programs. Colorado
The Nature Conservancy
Email: raddington@tnc.org -
Tegan May
Regenerative Grazing Lands Project Manager. Midwest US Office
The Nature Conservancy
Email: tegan.may@tnc.org -
Chris Pague
Senior Conservation Specialist • Tri-State Minnesota and Dakotas
The Nature Conservancy
Email: cpague@tnc.org