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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Rangeland Resources & Systems Research » Research » Research Project #436575

Research Project: Adaptive Grazing Management and Decision Support to Enhance Ecosystem Services in the Western Great Plains

Location: Rangeland Resources & Systems Research

2021 Annual Report


Accomplishments
1. New stocking rate guide reveals 72% increase in grazing capacity for semiarid rangelands. A stocking rate guide developed by ARS has been used for four decades on semiarid rangelands in the United States and around the world to relate grazing animal performance (weight gain) and beef production per unit area to remaining forage at the end of the grazing season. ARS scientists from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Fort Collins, Colorado, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Wyoming, analyzed contemporary data (2000-2018) from the same long-term study (1939-current) initially used for the 1960s stocking rate guide. They determined that the sustainable stocking rate for semiarid rangelands in the western Great Plains increased by 72% over the past 50 years, likely due to combined effects of recovery from the 1930s Dust Bowl, elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, and livestock genetics. The revised guide, available on the web as a Colorado State University extension fact sheet, is being used by more than 60 ranchers and on approximately 200,000 acres of the United States Forest Service Pawnee National Grassland for adaptive stocking adjustments to increase profitability, production efficiency, and resilience of the semiarid shortgrass steppe rangeland.

2. Quantifying plant traits to restore drought resistant rangelands. Managing for drought is one of the biggest challenges in rangelands. Plant drought-tolerance traits provide a powerful tool for predicting plant community responses to drought but are not well understood. Scientists from ARS in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming and Colorado State University discovered that easy-to-measure drought tolerance traits can predict which species grow most consistently across wet and dry years. These drought tolerant species stay green later in the year and persist in grazed ecosystems, which means they provide reliable sources of forage in semiarid rangeland. The ability to restore drought tolerant plant communities facilitates long-term conservation efforts and improves resilience of rangeland to a changing climate.

3. Sensitivity of forage production in a semiarid rangeland to precipitation and topography. Sensitivity of forage production in a semiarid rangeland to precipitation and topography. Understanding how precipitation amount and pattern as well as topographic variability impact forage production are critical to sustainable livestock management. Scientists from ARS in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, Yale University, and Colorado State University, used long-term (1983-2018) productivity and precipitation data to examine patterns and drivers of variability in forage production. Forage production varies up to 4-fold across topographic gradients, and is sensitive to precipitation amount as well as within year precipitation patterns. These results are helping ranchers and land managers using adaptive management to match animal demand with available forage under highly variable climatic conditions. The long-term productivity data are being used for validation and calibration of the Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender rangeland model, and in a Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network analysis of water-use efficiency.


Review Publications
Porensky, L.M., Baughman, O., Williamson, M.A., Perryman, B.L., Madsen, M.D., Leger, E.A. 2021. Using native grass seeding and targeted spring grazing to reduce low-level Bromus tectorum invasion on the Colorado Plateau. Biological Invasions. 23:705-722. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02397-0.
Wilmer, H.N., Augustine, D.J., Derner, J.D., Milchunas, D. 2020. Assessing the rate and reversibility of large herbivore effects on community composition in a semi-arid grassland ecosystem. Journal of Vegetation Science. 32(1). Article e12934. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12934.
Duchardt, C., Porensky, L.M., Pearse, I.S. 2021. Direct and indirect effects of an ecosystem engineer on a shrubland-prairie food web. Ecology. 102(1). Article e03195. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3195.
Augustine, D.J., Derner, J.D., Fernandez-Gimenez, M., Porensky, L.M., Wilmer, H.N., Briske, D., the CRAM Stakeholder Group. 2020. Adaptive, multipaddock rotational grazing management: A ranch-scale assessment of effects on vegetation and livestock performance in semiarid rangeland. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 73(6):796-810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2020.07.005.
Hartman, M.D., Parton, W.J., Derner, J.D., Schulte, D., Smith, W.K., Peck, D.E., Day, K.A., Del Grosso, S.J., Lutz, S., Fuchs, B., Chen, M., Gao, W. 2020. Seasonal grassland productivity forecast for the U.S. Great Plains using Grass-Cast. Ecosphere. 11(11). Article e03280. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3280.
Vila, M., Beaury, E., Blumenthal, D.M., Bradley, B.A., Early, R., Laginhas, B.E., Trillo, A., Dukes, J.S., Sorte, C.J., Ibanez, I. 2021. Understanding the combined impacts of weeds and climate change on crops. Environmental Research. 16(3). Article e034043. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abe14b.
Raynor, E.J., Derner, J.D., Baldwin, T., Ritten, J., Augustine, D.J. 2020. Multi-decadal directional shift in shortgrass stocking rates. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 74:72-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2020.09.005.
Windh, J., Ritten, J., Derner, J.D., Paisley, S., Lee, B. 2021. Effects of long-term cattle market conditions on continuous season-long and rotational grazing system revenues. The Rangeland Journal. 42(3):227-231. https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ20067.
Hoover, D.L., Lauenroth, W., Milchunas, D., Porensky, L.M., Augustine, D.J., Derner, J.D. 2021. Sensitivity of productivity to precipitation amount and pattern varies by topographic position in a semiarid grassland. Ecosphere. 12(2). Article e03376. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3376.
Coon, J.J., Lyon, N.J., Raynor, E.J., Debinski, D.M., Miller, J.R., Schacht, W.H. 2021. Using adaptive management to restore grasslands invaded by tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus). Rangeland Ecology and Management. 76:84-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.02.001.
Raynor, E.J., Gersie, S., Stephensen, M.B., Clark, P., Spiegal, S.A., Boughton, R.K., Bailey, D.W., Cibils, A., Smith, B.W., Derner, J.D., Estell, R.E., Nielson, R.M., Augustine, D.J. 2021. Cattle grazing distribution patterns related to topography across diverse rangeland ecosystems of North America. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 75:91-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2020.12.002.
Tatarko, J., Kucharski, M., Li, H., Li, H. 2020. PM2.5 and PM10 emissions by breakage during saltation of agricultural soils. Soil & Tillage Research. 208. Article e104902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104902.
Reid, R.S., Fernandez-Gimenez, M.E., Wilmer, H., Pickering, T., Kassam, K.S., Yasin, A., Porensky, L.M., Derner, J.D., Nkedianye, D., Jamsranjav, C., Jamiyansharav, K., Ulambayar, T., Oteros-Rozas, E., Ravera, F., Bulbulshoev, U., Kaziev, D.S., Knapp, C.N. 2021. Using research to support transformative impacts on complex "wicked problems" with pastoral peoples in rangelands. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 4. Article e600689. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.600689.
Weeks, J.J., Hettiarachchi, G.M., Santos, E., Tatarko, J. 2021. Potential human inhalation exposure to soil contaminants in urban gardening on brownfields sites: A breath of fresh air?. Journal of Environmental Quality. 50(3):782-790. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20208.
Ma, L., Fang, Q.X., Sima, M.W., Burkey, K.O., Harmel, R.D. 2021. Simulated climate change effects on soybean production in Southeastern United States with two crop modules in RZWQM2. Agronomy Journal. 113(2):1349-1365. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20548.
Wilmer, H., Schulz, T., Fernandez-Gimenez, M., Derner, J.D., Porensky, L.M., Augustine, D.J., Ritten, J., Dwyer, A., Meade, R. 2021. Social learning lessons from Collaborative Adaptive Rangeland Management. Rangelands. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2021.02.002.
Weltz, M.A., Huang, C., Newingham, B.A., Tatarko, J., Nouwakpo, S.K., Tsegaye, T.D. 2020. A strategic plan for future USDA- Agricultural Research Service erosion research and model development. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 75(6):137A-143A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2020.0805A.
Cheng, H., Shu, K., Qi, Z., Ma, L., Jin, V.L., Li, Y., Schmer, M.R., Wienhold, B.J., Feng, S. 2021. Effects of residue removal and tillage on greenhouse gas emissions in continuous corn systems as simulated with RZWQM2. Journal of Environmental Management. 285. Article e112097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112097.
Derner, J.D., Augustine, D.J., Briske, D., Wilmer, H.N., Porensky, L.M., Fernandez-Giminez, M., Peck, D.E., Ritten, J. 2020. Can collaborative adaptive management improve cattle production in multi-paddock grazing systems? Rangeland Ecology and Management. 75:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2020.11.002.
Malone, R.W., Garbrecht, J.D., Busteed, P.R., Hatfield, J.L., Todey, D.P., Gerlitz, J., Fang, Q., Sima, M., Radke, A.G., Ma, L., Qi, Z., Wu, H., Jaynes, D.B., Kaspar, T.C. 2020. Drainage N loads under climate change with winter rye cover crop in a northern Mississippi River Basin corn-soybean rotation. Sustainability. 12(18). Article 7630. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187630.
Maloney, M., Merkle, J.A., Aadland, D., Peck, D.E., Horan, R.D., Monteith, K., Finnoff, D., Sims, C., Schumaker, B. 2020. Chronic wasting disease undermines efforts to control the spread of brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Ecological Applications. 30(6). Article e02129. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2129.
Sharma, V., Nicholson, C., Bergantino, A., Irmak, S., Peck, D.E. 2020. Temporal trend analysis of meteorological variables and reference evapotranspiration in the inter-mountain region of Wyoming. Water. 12(8). Article e2159. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082159.
Lassa, M.J., Wilmer, H.N., Boom, M., Brown, Z., Derner, J.D., Peck, D.E., Thissen, C., Marlow, C. 2020. How to talk with ranchers about drought and climate resilience: Lessons from knowledge exchange workshops in Montana. Journal of Extension. 58(5). Article ev58-5rb1. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/61765
Porensky, L.M., McGee, R.A., Pellatz, D.W. 2020. Long-term grazing removal increased invasion and reduced native plant abundance and diversity in a sagebrush grassland. Global Ecology and Conservation. 24. Article e01267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01267.
Anar, M.J., Lin, Z., Ma, L., Chatterjee, A., Yuja, S., Teboh, J.M., Ostlie, E. 2021. Modeling the effects of crop rotation and tillage on sugarbeet yield and soil nitrate using RZWQM2. Transactions of the ASABE. 64(2):461-474. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13752.
Chen, G., Harmel, R.D., Ma, L., Derner, J.D., Augustine, D.J., Bartling, P., Fang, Q., Williams, J., Zilverberg, C., Boone, R., Hoover, D.L., Yu, Q. 2021. Evaluation of APEX modifications to simulate forage production for grazing management decision-support in the Western US Great Plains. Agricultural Systems. 191. Article 103139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103139.
Negron, J., Pate, R.J., Derner, J.D. 2020. Flight of the Mountain Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in suburban Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA during summer 2011. The Coleopterists Bulletin. 74(3):532-535. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-74.3.532.
Hakk, H., Pfaff, C.M., Lupton, S.J., Singh, A. 2020. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of three [14C]PBDE congeners in laying hens and transfer to eggs. Xenobiotica. 51:335-344. https://doi.org/10.1080/00498254.2020.1860269.
Wilcox, K.R., Blumenthal, D.M., Kray, J.A., Mueller, K.E., Derner, J.D., Ocheltree, T.W., Porensky, L.M. 2021. Plant traits related to precipitation sensitivity of species and communities in semiarid shortgrass prairie. New Phytologist. 229(4):2007-2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17000.
Blumenthal, D.M., LeCain, D.R., Porensky, L.M., Leger, E., Gaffney, R.M., Ocheltree, T., Pilmanis, A. 2020. Local adaptation to precipitation in the perennial grass Elymus elymoides: Trade-offs between growth and drought resistance traits. Evolutionary Applications. 14(2):524-535. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13137.
Casperson, S.L., Conrad, Z., Raatz, S., Derner, J.D., Roemmich, J.N., Jahns, L.A., Picklo, M.J. 2020. Impact of beef consumption on saturated fat intake in the United States adult population: Insights from modeling the influences of bovine genetics and nutrition. Meat Science. 169. Article e108225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108225.
Scasta, D.J., Jorns, T., Derner, J.D., Stam, B., McClaren, M., Calkins, C., Steward, W. 2020. Technical note: Toxic plants in sheep diets grazing extensive landscapes: Insights from fecal DNA metabarcoding. Livestock Science. 236. Article e104002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104002.
Kaplan, N.E., Baker, K., Karasti, H. 2021. Long live the data! Embedded data management at a long-term ecological research site. Ecosphere. 12(5). Article e03493. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3493.
Woodmansee, R.G., Ojima, D.S., Kaplan, N.E. 2021. Where to from here? Unravelling wicked problems. In: Woodmansee, R.G., Moore, J.C., Ojima, D.S., Richards, L., editors. Natural Resource Management Reimagined: Using the Systems Ecology Paradigm. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 380-420.
Hautaluoma, J., Woodmansee, R.G., Kaplan, N.E., Moore, J.C., Woodmansee, C.J. 2021. Organizational and administrative challenges and innovations. In: Woodmansee, R.G., Moore, J.C., Ojima, D.S., Richards, L., editors. Natural Resource Management Reimagined: Using the Systems Ecology Paradigm. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 353-379.
Davis, K., Augustine, D.J., Monroe, A., Derner, J.D., Aldridge, C. 2021. Adaptive rangeland management benefits grassland birds utilizing opposing vegetation structure in the shortgrass steppe. Ecological Applications. 30(1). Article e02020. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2020.
Timmer, J.M., Tipton, C.Y., Bruegger, R.A., Augustine, D.J., Dickey, C., Fernandez-Gimenez, M., Aldridge, C. 2021. Integrating wildlife count models with state-and-transitions models to enhance rangeland management for multiple objectives. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 78:15-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.04.005.
Wigley, B.J., Augustine, D.J., Coetsee, C., Ratnam, J., Sankaran, M. 2020. Grasses continued to trump trees at soil carbon sequestration following herbivore exclusion in a semi-arid African savanna. Ecology. 101(5). Article e03008. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3008.
Duchardt, C., Beck, J., Augustine, D.J. 2020. Mountain Plover habitat selection and nest survival in relation to weather variability and spatial attributes of black-tailed prairie dog disturbance. The Condor: Ornithological Applications. 122(1):1-15. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz059.
Koehn, A.C., Bjorneberg, D.L., Malone, R.W., Leytem, A.B., Moore, A., Ma, L., Bartling, P.N. 2021. Simulating soil nitrogen fate in irrigated crop production with manure applications. Science of the Total Environment. 793. Article e148510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148510.
Hoell, A., Parker, B., Downey, M., Umphlett, N., Jencso, K., Akyuz, A., Peck, D.E., Hadwen, T., Fuchs, B., Kluck, D., Edwards, L., Perlwitz, J., Eischeid, J., Deheza, V., Pulwarty, R., Bevington, K. 2020. Lessons learned from the 2017 flash drought across the U.S. Northern Great Plains and Canadian Prairies. American Meteorological Society. 101(12):E2171-E2185. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0272.1.