Fire effects on weeping lovegrass developmental morphology and forage quality

Date

1999-05

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Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

Weeping lovegrass [Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees.] is an introduced perennial, warm-season, bunchgrass that is productive on a wide variety of soils, particularly sandy and sandy loam soils. Consequently, weeping lovegrass was widely used during the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on the Southem High Plains of Texas. Due to mismanagement, many producers have rejected weeping lovegrass as part of their grazing program. Management practices may be better implemented with an understanding of the morphological development of weeping lovegrass. Prescribed burning is a practical and efficient management tool to increase forage production and forage quality in weeping lovegrass. Understanding the impacts of fire on weeping lovegrass developmental morphology and forage quality may allow for better utilization in grazing systems.

The objectives of this study were to: (1) quantify the developmental morphology of weeping lovegrass, (2) determine the effect of fire on weeping lovegrass developmental morphology, (3) determine the effect of fire on weeping lovegrass tiller demographics, and (4) determine the effect of fire on weeping lovegrass forage quality.

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