Document Type
Thesis - campus only access
Date of Award
Spring 1968
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
Advisor
G. K. Hulett
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to delineate and map the communities, to describe selected structural aspects of the vegetation, to describe soil profiles, and to estimate biomass transfer and net primary productivity of the communities within a remnant Mixed Prairie grassland. Nine communities were separated. The smallest communities were Buchloe dactyloides-Bouteloua curtipendula-Sporobolus asper and Buchloe dactyloides-Bouteloua gracilis-Agropyron smithii. The largest communities were Andropogon scoparius-Andropogon gerardi-Bouteloua curtipendula and Andropogon gerardi-Kochia scoparia-Helianthus annuus. Four major soil types were Mento, Armo, Brownell and Roxbury. Green herbage peak production was in August. Standing cured vegetation had the greatest values at the beginning and the end of the growing season. Fresh mulch characteristically displayed values that corresponded with the growth and maturity of the species dominating the communities. Humic mulch values increased during midsummer and decreased during autumn. Net primary productivity was found to vary from 1,009 g/m2 for the Buchloe dactyloides-Bouteloua gracilis-Agropyron smithii community to 3,129 g/m2 for the Andropogon gerardi-Kochia scoparia-Helianthus annuus community.
Recommended Citation
Brock, John H., "Some Aspects of the Structure and Function of a Remnant Mixed Prairie Grassland" (1968). Master's Theses. 1147.
DOI: 10.58809/ORLE6739
Available at:
https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/1147
Rights
© 1968 John H. Brock
Comments
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