Forage Yields and Consumption in Eastern NebraskaYields and Consumption of Forage in Three Pasture-types: An Ecological Analysis by J. E.Weaver; R. W. DarlandReview by: B. W. AllredEcology, Vol. 26, No. 4 (Oct., 1945), p. 424Published by: Ecological Society of AmericaStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1931672 .
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424 BOOK REVIEWS Ecology, Vol. 26, No. 4
FORAGE YIELDS AND CONSUMPTION IN EASTERN NEBRASKA 1
Students and teachers of range ecology will find eventful reading in this bulletin by Professor Weaver of the University of Nebraska, and his former assistant, R. W. Darland, who is now in the armed forces.
While I have watched the progress of this study from beginning to end, I find that the bulletin still holds my interest for several read- ings. The bulletin follows the true Weaver style in being full of solid information which is en- hanced with a great variety of meaningful illus- trations that will be helpful teaching guides in range ecology.
The study was made near Lincoln, Nebraska, on native bluestem (Andropogon) prairies which had been seriously depleted during the drought of the thirties. By 1942, portions of these de- generated bluestem pastures had become covered with invading Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii). The invading plants grow early in the spring, whereas the bluestems and others that they had replaced are largely summer-growing grasses. Therefore, the authors set forth, in the fall of 1942, to appraise these widespread changes as they related to forage yields, livestock preference, and forage consumption in each of the three types.
Productivity of native prairies are reduced by one-third to one-half when the native bluestems are replaced by invading Kentucky bluegrass and western wheatgrass, according to the results thus far. Other studies in the same area by Weaver and associates have given similar results. It is, therefore, worthwhile for farmers to know that they are being robbed of from one-third to one- half of their annual income when these conditions
prevail, and that they can correct the situation bNy re-establishing the prairie to its natural condition.
A strong case is established for the artful man- agement of grasslands that the careful grazier is rewarded with increased income for his pains, whereas the penalties of over-grazing are lowered incomes to operators, and depleted soil and forage resources.
"Proper management of range or pasture forage is largely determined by the amount of grass, forbs, or other vegetation that should be left on the ground." Part of the annual forage crop goes to feed livestock, but part must be left to enrich the soil and protect it from the direct ac- tion of sun, rain, and wind.
Many of Weaver's previous writings have pro- vided graphic illustrations on plant roots as they relate to top growth. This bulletin has an illus- tration on the effect of various intensities of clip- ping of top growth on the root development of side-oats grama seedlings.
The original prairies have advantages over bluegrass and wheatgrass types in providing a greater variety of palatable grasses and forbs that contribute toward a balanced diet for livestock. The authors say that 250 species of plants have been observed in a single square mile of native prairie near Lincoln, of which the grasses, legumes, and composites contributed the largest numbers.
There is much illuminating information on forage yields, height of grazing, behavior of the chief forage species, seasonal residues, and graz- ing trends in the several types.
B. W. ALLRED
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE,
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
BIRDS OF1 G1ZOR(;IA '
This is the first book on the birds of Georgia and fills a long-standing gap in our knowledge of the birds of the eastern United States. The
authors have done a very thorough and careful job in compiling both the check-list and the bibliography. The latter contains over 700 titles dealing with Georgia ornithology. The check-list is well annotated but without migration dates and with no mention of the total number of species and subspecies recorded from Georgia. Of special use to Georgia students will be the section on bird clubs and local check-lists pre- sented in the appendix. The appendix also in- cludes a physiographic map with an explanation of life zones and vegetation types found in Georgia.
This is a thorough job, well printed and well bound-a must for all ornithologists in the region.
WM. H. ELDER
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Weaver, J. E., and R. W. Darland. 1945. Yields and consumption of forage in three pas- ture-types: an ecological analysis. Nebraska Conservation Bull. 27. Lincoln, Nebr.: Univ. of Nebr., Conservation and Survey Division., Pp. iii + 76. 32 figs.
I Green, Earle R., William W. Griffin, Eugene P. Odum, Herbert L. Stoddard, and Ivan R. Tomkins, with historical narrative by Eugene E. Murphy 1945. Birds of Georgia-A preliminary check-list and bibliography of Georgia ornithol- ogy. The University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia. 111 pp., 1 plate, 1 map. $2.00.
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