Re: [ECOLOG-L] simulate grazing with mowing treatments

[Abraham de Alba A.]

You are NOT going to simulate grazing by large herbivore like that, you 
are going to simulate cutting-removal of whatever. That type of experiments 
have been totally obliterated in practice since they are quite misleading. 
There is evidence that animal's saliva can be affecting the leaves, the animal 
"chooses" what to eat quite differently than what we can tell, the animal is 
also urinating and leaving feaces, etc.

So, to say it bluntly if the objetive is to see what is going on with large 
herbivores you have to use them, if you want to see what is the effect of 
removal of leaves, etc. then you can use a mower. They are different and w 
should aknowledge that from the begining.
 
Abraham de Alba Avila
Terrestrial Plant Ecology
INIFAP-Ags
Ap. postal 20,
Pabellón Arteaga, 20660
Aguascalientes, MEXICO
 
SKYPE: adealba55
 Tel:  (465) 95-801-67 , & 801-86 ext. 126, FAX ext 102
alternate: dealba.abra...@inifap.gob.mx 
cel:  449-157-7070 





From: "Reinhart, Kurt" 
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2009 8:50:26 AM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] simulate grazing with mowing treatments

I am looking for ideas on modifying a lawn mower (or something
functionally equivalent) to create mowing treatments that will
approximate different levels of non-selective herbivory by livestock in
semi-arid grasslands.  Unfortunately, the chemical treatments to the
vegetation that I'm planning prevents utilizing e.g. sheep to naturally
graze plots.  A mowing solution might require modifying it to attach to
an alternate frame to create the ability for setting a wide range of
cutting heights to produce different utilization levels (e.g. 45 and
75%) and compensate for variable production among years.  Ideally it
will also collect/suck up cut material to avoid creating profuse leaf
litter so it might need a separate vacuum for sucking up material when
cutting at e.g. 25cm off the ground. I suspect safety flaps will also
need to be installed to protect the operator from flying debri.  We have
some really handy shop staff that can build just about anything.  So I'm
mostly looking for ideas, likely pitfalls to avoid, etc.

Any body built something similar or know someone that has?

Kurt

<mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU> 
Kurt Reinhart, Research Ecologist
USDA-ARS
Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research Laboratory
243 Fort Keogh Road
Miles City, MT 59301 USA
email: kurt.reinh...@ars.usda.gov
Office:  (406) 874-8211 
Fax: (406) 874-8289
educational website: http://iecology.net <http://iecology.net/> 

[ECOLOG-L] simulate grazing with mowing treatments

[Reinhart, Kurt]

I am looking for ideas on modifying a lawn mower (or something
functionally equivalent) to create mowing treatments that will
approximate different levels of non-selective herbivory by livestock in
semi-arid grasslands.  Unfortunately, the chemical treatments to the
vegetation that I'm planning prevents utilizing e.g. sheep to naturally
graze plots.  A mowing solution might require modifying it to attach to
an alternate frame to create the ability for setting a wide range of
cutting heights to produce different utilization levels (e.g. 45 and
75%) and compensate for variable production among years.  Ideally it
will also collect/suck up cut material to avoid creating profuse leaf
litter so it might need a separate vacuum for sucking up material when
cutting at e.g. 25cm off the ground. I suspect safety flaps will also
need to be installed to protect the operator from flying debri.  We have
some really handy shop staff that can build just about anything.  So I'm
mostly looking for ideas, likely pitfalls to avoid, etc.

Any body built something similar or know someone that has?

Kurt

 
Kurt Reinhart, Research Ecologist
USDA-ARS
Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research Laboratory
243 Fort Keogh Road
Miles City, MT 59301 USA
email: kurt.reinh...@ars.usda.gov
Office: (406) 874-8211
Fax: (406) 874-8289
educational website: http://iecology.net