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10 December 2021 Kentucky Bluegrass Impacts Diversity and Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in a Northern Great Plains Rangeland
J.R. Hendrickson, M.A. Liebig, J. Printz, D. Toledo, J.J. Halvorson, R.G. Christensen, S.L. Kronberg
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Abstract

There are few side-by-side comparisons on how Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) invasion has affected plant diversity and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. Between 2013 and 2015, four plots (4.9 × 4.9 m) were annually located on a long-term (1916–2016), moderately stocked pasture at the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory (USDA-ARS) near Mandan, North Dakota. All plots were located on loamy ecological with minimal microsite differences. Each site had areas that were visually observed to have the largest vegetative component dominated by either Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) or dominated by other species (CONT). Two 1/8 m2 quadrats were clipped by species, including detached plant material (litter), within each subplot between mid to late July 2013, 2014, and 2015. This period represents peak biomass production and offers the best opportunity to capture cool- and warm-season perennial species. In 2013, soil samples were taken at depths of 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm within each plot and thatch samples were hand excavated after clipping. Carbon and N were determined on biomass, litter, thatch, and soil samples. KBG plots produced 28% more biomass annually than the CONT plots. In 2014 and 2015, species richness was 0.7–2.1 × greater in the CONT plots. Although N and C concentrations were similar between treatments for aboveground biomass, litter, and thatch when expressed on a g m–2 basis, N was 34% greater for aboveground biomass and 600% greater for litter in KBG plots. Soil organic C and total soil N at 0–5 cm were 26% and 22% greater in KBG plots, respectively. Our findings indicate that KBG plots had less diversity and greater aboveground and belowground N and C than CONT. More follow-on research is needed to understand how C and N stocks and dynamics influence Kentucky bluegrass invasion.

Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Society for Range Management.
J.R. Hendrickson, M.A. Liebig, J. Printz, D. Toledo, J.J. Halvorson, R.G. Christensen, and S.L. Kronberg "Kentucky Bluegrass Impacts Diversity and Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in a Northern Great Plains Rangeland," Rangeland Ecology and Management 79(1), 36-42, (10 December 2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.07.005
Received: 23 September 2020; Accepted: 11 July 2021; Published: 10 December 2021
KEYWORDS
conceptual model
invasive grass
Kentucky bluegrass thatch
litter
Poa pratensis L
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