Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on November 9, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Background: Lespedeza cuneata is a perennial invasive legume native to Asia that is common across grasslands in the eastern half of the United States and parts of Canada. The competitive nature and limited palatability of L. cuneata for grazers in the tallgrass prairie has made it an undesirable and invasive weed. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate an invasive species management plan for restored grasslands and prairie areas. Methods: Study plots (n=144) for experiment 1 (summer treatment) were established at Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge in Jackson County Illinois in August of 2012 and were situated to contain infestations of the target species. Two herbicides, in five concentrations were applied in August of 2012. A native seed mix was added to a portion of the summer plots later, in February of 2013. These treatments were assessed in June and August of 2013 to determine herbicide effects on stem count and percent cover of L. cuneata, along with the composition and percent cover of other species present. Spring herbicide applications (n=18) for experiment 2 were established, assessed for L. cuneata cover and density, and treated with two herbicide treatments in May of 2013. Spring treatments were identical to existing plots and were re-assessed in August 2013 to determine species composition and the abundance of L. cuneata. Seed was not added to these plots. Analysis: Mixed Model analysis by site was performed to test the effect of herbicide and seeding treatments on L. cuneata for both experiments 1 &2. The summer plots were also tested for effects on other plant groups. A repeated measures PERMANOVA along with ANOSIM and PERMADISP was performed to assess community composition response to seeding and herbicide treatments in the summer plots. Results: Abundance of L. cuneata was reduced 67 to <90% following herbicide treatment in Experiments 1 and 2. There were no differences in the effectiveness of herbicide treatments in in experiment 1, sites 1 &3, and in experiment 2. Supplemental seeding in the summer plots did not reduce the abundance of L. cuneata consistently across sites. Conclusion: Considerable short-term control of the target species was achieved in both the summer and spring plots, providing a window of opportunity for the imposition of additional methods of control. However, data from the summer plots suggest recovery of L. cuneata some sites, indicating further control would be necessary, with potentially the addition of other control methods or site alterations.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / K C Olson / The largest intact remnant of the tallgrass prairie, the Flint Hills ecoregion, is currently under threat from the invasive weed sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata [Dumont] G. Don; SL). The objectives of this research were to evaluate the efficacy of late-season prescribed burning and fall herbicide application, alone and in concert, for comprehensive control of sericea lespedeza and to assess their broader treatment impacts on native plant communities. A 31-ha native tallgrass pasture with a light to moderate infestation of SL was divided into 16 subunits for this experiment. Each subunit was randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: negative control, spray-only, burn-only, or burn-plus-spray. A prescribed burn was conducted on burn-only and burn-plus-spray subunits in early September 2016. Following the re-emergence of SL, spray-only and burn-plus-spray subunits received a broadcast application of metsulfuron methyl (Escort XP, DuPont, Wilmington, DE) at a rate of 70.1 g ˖ ha⁻¹ in late September. Frequency and vigor of SL, total forage biomass, soil cover, and plant species composition were measured along permanent 100-m transects in each subunit prior to treatment application and again 12 mo later, in 2017 (i.e., 1 YAT). In 30 x 30-cm plots at 1-m intervals along each transect, the presence or absence of SL was noted. Where SL was present, crown maturity and maximum stem length of the SL plant nearest to the transect were recorded. Presence of multiple stems in plots was also recorded. Prior to treatment application, SL comprised 1 ± 2.0% of total basal cover and was not different between treatments (P = 0.38). One YAT, SL was more abundant (P ≤ 0.02) in negative control subunits than in spray-only, burn-only, or burn-plus-spray subunits, which were not different (P ≥ 0.95) from one another. Aerial frequency of SL, abundance of mature SL crowns, and incidence of plots with multiple SL stems were greatest (P ≤ 0.03) for negative controls, although not different (P ≥ 0.50) between the other 3 treatments. The change in forage biomass production 1 YAT did not differ (P = 0.16) between treatments. A tendency (P = 0.06) for a shift from litter cover to bare soil was noted when the spray-only, burn-only, and burn-plus-spray treatments were compared to the negative control. Graminoid basal cover was greater (P < 0.01) in the spray-only and burn-plus-spray treatments than in the negative-control and burn-only treatments 1 YAT. Conversely, forb basal cover was less (P = 0.01) in spray-only and burn-plus-spray treatments than in negative-control and burn-only treatments. The evenness component of diversity decreased in the burn-plus-spray treatment relative to the negative control (P ≤ 0.01). These data indicate that each of these strategies were effective in reducing SL populations. Although late-summer prescribed burning produced no detected negative responses within the native plant community, fall herbicide application, alone or in conjunction with prescribed burning, resulted in collateral damage to forb populations. A late-summer prescribed burn alone is recommended for low-cost comprehensive control of a light to moderate sericea lespedeza infestation.

In conditions where supplementation of poor quality diets is a major challenge, forage legumes such as Sericea lespedeza can be a good alternative supplement for protein at lower cost than most commercial concentrates. From studies done on Sericea lespedeza it is found plausible and valuable to supplement urea with Sericea lespedeza to strategically combat the deleterious effect of condensed tannins in the Sericea lespedeza and provide nitrogen in the rumen. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing sunflower oilcake with urea (a rumen degradable protein RDP source) or Sericea lespedeza (rumen undegradable protein RUP source) mixed with urea as nitrogen/protein sources on nutrient utilization, milk yield and milk composition of Saanen dairy goats. A digestibility and lactation study were conducted at the University of Pretoria Research Farm and chemical analysis performed at the University Nutrilab. A 30 days digestibility study was conducted on male Saanen goats after the lactation study, with 23 days adaptation and 7 days data collection period. Nine male goats were randomised and allocated to the three treatments in metabolism cages. In the lactation study 36 dairy goats were blocked according to milk collected on first month of lactation into high, medium and low milk yielders, then allocated to the three treatments of total mixed rations containing sunflower oilcake (T1) at 7% main protein source, T2 (urea at 1%) and T3- Sericea lespedeza at 12.5% mixed with urea according to a complete randomised block design (CRBD). Milk samples were collected from individual goats monthly at two consecutive milking’s. The samples were analysed for milk fat, protein, lactose, somatic cell count and milk urea nitrogen using a Milko-Scan analyser (at Irene Lacto lab). In the digestibility study, dry matter intake was significantly higher for goats fed on Sericea lespedeza with urea (T3) diet than goats fed on T1 and T2 diet. Goats on T3 diet had also significantly higher organic matter and crude protein intake than those goats fed on the other two TMR diets. The results also shows that the mean daily milk yields for the goats in the T1, T2 and T3 were 2.56, 2.46 and 2.52 kg per day respectively. T2 group had higher milk fat % (3.61) and higher milk urea nitrogen (MUN - 25.70 mg N/dl) than the other two treatments. T1 had significantly higher milk protein %. There was a great difference in milk composition of the afternoon milk as compared to the morning milk. The three TMRs had no significant difference in the nitrogen utilization and nitrogen excretion. It is then concluded that Sericea lespedeza mixed with urea can be used as subsititutes for sunflower oilcake in the diets of dairy goats since no negetive effect was found. However further investigations are needed. / Dissertation (MSc Agric)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / DAAD-NRF / International Foundation for Science (IFS) / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / MSc (Agric) / Unrestricted

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / K C Olson / We evaluated effects of annual, prescribed burning on vigor of the noxious weed, sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata; SL) in native tallgrass prairie over a 4-yr period. We hypothesized that annual prescribed burning conducted during the growing season would selectively pressure SL, whereas locally-conventional, dormant-season prescribed burning would have no effect on SL. A 50-ha native tallgrass pasture infested with SL (initial basal frequency = 2 ± 1.3%, initial aerial frequency = 36 ± 3.4%) was used for our study. It was divided along watershed boundaries into 9 fire-management units (5 ± 2.6 ha) for this experiment. Burn units were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 prescribed-burning times (n = 3 / treatment): early spring (1 April; EARLY), mid-summer (1 August; MID), or late summer (1 September; LATE). Forage biomass, SL aerial frequency, SL stem length, SL seed production, soil cover, and plant species composition were measured along single, permanent 100-m transects in each burn unit. Treatment and measurement date influenced forage biomass and SL stem length (treatment × time). Forage biomass was not different (P ≥ 0.43) between treatments on 17 July; however, forage biomass was greater (P < 0.01) in EARLY than MID and greater in MID than LATE on 10 October. Maximum stem length of SL was less (P ≤ 0.02) in MID and LATE than in EARLY on 17 July and on 10 October. Aerial frequency of SL was least (main effect – P < 0.01) in LATE, intermediate in MID, and greatest in EARLY, whereas basal frequency of SL was less (P < 0.01) in MID and LATE compared with EARLY. Whole-plant dry weight and seed production of SL at dormancy were greatly diminished (P ≤ 0.02) in MID and LATE compared with EARLY. Occurrence of bare soil, litter cover, and total basal plant cover were not different (P ≥ 0.21) between treatments. Similarly, basal cover of grasses, forbs, and shrubs were not different (P ≥ 0.24) between treatments. We interpreted these data to indicate that annual prescribed burning during the growing season had strong suppressive effects on SL compared to locally-conventional, early-season prescribed burning and produced no apparent detrimental effects on soil cover or non-target plant species. Post-fire regrowth was sufficient to prevent erosion and soil-moisture loss during the subsequent dormant season and would have allowed light to moderate grazing during the ensuing winter. Key words: Lespedeza cuneata, prescribed fire, range improvement

Master of Science / Division of Biology / David A. Haukos / Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is an invasive forb that reduces native grass and forb abundance in tall-grass prairie by up to 92%. Controlling invasions is difficult because traditional land management tools used in the Flint Hills, broad spectrum herbicides, spring prescribed fire, and cattle grazing, are ineffective against sericea. Recent research has demonstrated, however, that mid- and late summer prescribed fire and spring fire with early season grazing by steers followed by late season grazing by sheep are effective at reducing sericea whole plant mass, number of seeds produced, and seed mass. Field results were from two separate experiments conducted in tall-grass prairie study sites in the Flint Hills. On a Geary County, Kansas, study site, the utility of 1) spring fire (control), 2) mid-summer fire, and 3) late summer fire on sericea control were compared. On a Woodson County, Kansas, study site, the utility of 1) spring fire with early season steer grazing followed by rest (control) and 2) spring fire with early season steer grazing and late season sheep grazing on sericea control were compared. At the same study sites, I measured responses by the native wildlife community to use of summer fire and sheep grazing, relative to their controls, to manage sericea lespedeza. Specifically, my objectives were to compare grassland songbird density, grassland songbird nest survival, and grassland butterfly species composition and density among treatments at both study sites. I also related patterns in the vegetation community of each treatment for each study site to respective patterns in grassland bird and butterfly communities. Within study sites, density, nest density, and nest success of grassland bird communities responded similarly to treatments and controls, with the exception that densities of Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savanarrum) were 3.4- and 2.2-fold greater in mid- and late summer fire plots than spring fire plots, respectively, in the Geary County study site. Species compositions of butterfly communities were similar across treatments within experiments, but grassland specialist species comprised only 8.6 and 1.2% of all butterfly observations in the Geary County and Woodson County experiments, respectively. Grassland specialist butterfly species may benefit from summer fire, as their nectar sources were more abundant in Summer Fire plots than Spring Fire plots. Overall, within each experiment, grassland bird and butterfly communities were similar across treatments, suggesting that treatments did not negatively affect grassland songbird and butterfly communities. I additionally demonstrated that Dickcissel (Spiza americana) nest sites contain a lower proportion of sericea than random points, the first evidence that the invasion is detrimental to grassland songbird species. Lacking control, the continued sericea invasion will out compete cumulatively more forb plants resulting in declining quality of grassland bird nesting habitat on the landscape. Controlling sericea lespedeza invasions will allow native forb species to increase in abundance and improve the condition of grasslands for native wildlife and livestock producers. Therefore, I advocate use of summer fire or spring fire with a combination of cattle and sheep grazing to control sericea lespedeza with the long-term goal of tall-grass prairie restoration.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / KC Olson / Our objective was to determine the effects of supplemental corn steep liquor (CSL) on voluntary selection of sericea lespedeza (SL) by beef cows grazing native tallgrass range. Dietary botanical composition of cows (n = 145; initial BW = 579 ± 91 kg) was evaluated during a 150-d grazing period (5/1 to 10/1). Native pastures (n = 9; 50 ± 17 ha) infested by SL (average SL biomass = 37% of total forage biomass) were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: grazing by unsupplemented cows or grazing by cows supplemented with CSL (1.79 kg DM • cow-1 • d-1; 45% DM, 34% CP). Cows were assigned randomly to treatment and pasture (stocking rate = 0.5 ha/AUM). Concentration and protein-binding capacity of condensed tannins (CT) in SL were measured monthly. Fecal samples were collected from each cow on 6/1, 7/1, 8/1, 9/1, and 10/1. Herbivory of SL was estimated along line transects in October. Plant fragments in fecal samples were quantified via a microhistological technique; fragment prevalence in fecal material was assumed to equal botanical composition of the diet. Concentration and protein-binding capacity of CT in SL were greatest (P < 0.01) on 8/1 and 9/1, respectively. The proportion of individual SL plants showing evidence of herbivory tended to be greater (P = 0.09) on pastures grazed by supplemented cows compared to pastures grazed by unsupplemented cows (94 vs. 80% of SL stems, respectively). Prevalence of SL in beef cow diets was influenced (P < 0.01) by CSL supplementation and by month. Prevalence of SL in beef cow diets was not different (P ≥ 0.35) between treatments when concentration and protein-binding capacity of CT were relatively low (6/1, 7/1, and 10/1). In contrast, supplemented cows selected more (P < 0.01) SL than unsupplemented cows when concentration and protein-binding capacity of CT were greatest (8/1 and 9/1). We interpreted these data to suggest that voluntary selection of SL by beef cows was inversely related to concentration of CT; moreover, supplemental CSL stimulated voluntary selection of SL during periods of high CT concentration. Supplemental CSL did not influence selection of other plant species that were monitored.

Thesis (M.S.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "May 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-42). Also available online.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / K C Olson / Eight native tallgrass pastures infested with sericea lespedeza (initial basal frequency = 2.9 ± 2.74%) were grazed by yearling beef steers (n = 279 / yr; 1.1 ha / steer) from 15 April to 15 July for 2 grazing seasons. Subsequent to steer grazing, mature ewes (n = 813 / yr) were allowed to graze 4 of the 8 pastures (0.15 ha / ewe) from 31 July to 1 October. Remaining pastures were rested until the subsequent April. Animals were allocated randomly to pastures annually; grazing treatments remained fixed for the 2-yr experiment. Four permanent 100-m transects were laid out in a north-south gradient in each pasture. Beginning 1 May, steer diet composition was monitored by collecting 5 fresh fecal pats along each transect at 2-wk intervals until steers were removed on 15 July. Fecal pats were dried and ground individually and then composited by weight within transect. Twenty-five mature ewes from each pasture were randomly selected to monitor diet composition. On 15 August and 15 September, ewes were gathered and restrained; fecal grab samples were then collected from the individuals selected for diet composition analysis. Microhistological analysis was conducted on steer fecal composites and fecal samples from individual ewes, using pure samples of 17 predominant grass, forb, and browse species from the experimental site as reference standards. Fecal and standard samples were prepared for microhistological analysis and viewed using a compound microscope at 100x magnification. Botanical composition of pastures was measured in October and compared with botanical composition of yearling beef steer and mature ewe diets. Diet selection exercised by yearling steer and mature ewes was evaluated using Kulcyznski’s Similarity Index. Proportions of bare soil, litter cover, and total basal vegetation cover did not differ (P ≥ 0.38) between pastures for either steer or sheep diet evaluations. Similarly, basal cover of the 17 plants selected as microhistological standards did not differ (P ≥ 0.07) between pastures for either steer or sheep diet evaluations. The proportions of total graminoids and total forbs and forb-like plants in the diets of grazing steers were not different (P = 0.37) between sampling periods and were interpreted to indicate steer diets were strongly dominated by graminoids (≥ 88.4% of diets). Yearling beef steers consistently exhibited strong preference (i.e., ≤ 6% similarity with pasture composition) for Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua dactyloides, Dalea purpurea, and Liatris punctata, whereas they strongly avoided Lespedeza cuneata and Symphyotrichum ericoides. The proportions of total graminoids and total forbs and forb-like plants in the diets of grazing ewes were not different (P = 0.67) between sampling periods and were interpreted to indicate that mature ewes selected consistent proportions of grasses and forbs over time (average = 58 and 42% of diets for grasses and forbs, respectively). Mature ewes consistently exhibited strong preference (i.e., ≤ 10% similarity with pasture composition) for Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua dactyloides, Dalea purpurea, Liatris punctata, Vernonia baldwinii, and Ambrosia artemisiifolia. None of the 17 microhistological reference standards were consistently avoided by ewes.

Reclaimed coal-mined lands in the Appalachian region can be successful established and utilized for beef cattle production. Currently, these areas are underutilized partly due to an increase in invasive plant species, such as multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora Thunb. Ex Murr.), autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.), and sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours.) G. Don). The steep topography and low economic returns from beef cattle make conventional control methods inhibitive. Goats are effective browsing on invasive plant species. An experiment was conducted in 2006 and 2007 at the Powell River Research and Education Center near Wise, VA (77° 43' 30" west longitude, 38° 57' 30" north latitude, elevation 155.5 m) to determine the effects of an ungrazed control, cattle alone grazing, and mixed grazing goats with cattle on forage biomass, botanical composition, relative plant abundance, and animal performance. The three treatments included an ungrazed control, cattle grazing alone, and mixed grazing goats with cattle. Experimental design was a randomized complete block design with two replicates for the control and three replicates for the grazed treatments. Three times during the grazing season the following were measured, analyzed or assessed: nutritive values of pasture, autumn olive, multiflora rose, and sericea lespedeza were assessed; forage biomass was determined by clipping four 0.25 m² quadrants per control replicate and eight 0.25 m² quadrants per grazed replicate; botanical composition and relative abundance of plant species was assessed by the Double DAFOR method from five fixed points in each control replicate and ten fixed points in each grazed replicate; animals were weighed; autumn olive shrub height was measured with a clinometer from a distance of 10 m from the shrub. Branch length was measured with a tape measure from the base of the branch to the end tip. Shrub survival was measured by counting shrubs in each replicate and determining visually percent leaf-out. Each year, control and cattle alone treatments had greater (P < 0.05). Generally, grass content increased in the grazed treatments from spring to fall while weed content increased in the control treatment (P < 0.05). By the end of the two experimental years, the legume components of the pasture were low. This was more evident in the ungrazed control than the grazed treatments. The relative abundance of tall fescue and orchardgrass (P < 0.05) increased in grazed treatments while sericea lespedeza became a dominant weed in the control (P < 0.05). Goats showed high preference for sericea lespedeza and maintain this plant in a leafy, vegetative stage. This leafy, vegetative growth was found to acceptable to cattle. Cattle performance was not affected by treatment (P < 0.05) but total animal output was higher for mixed grazed compared to cattle alone treatments (P < 0.05). The nutritive values of multiflora rose, autumn olive, and sericea lespedeza were higher than pasture in most instances (P < 0.05). In our experiment, autumn olive was severely impacted by goat browsing. Shrub survival was lower in mixed grazing (61%) by the end of the experiment compared to over 90% for the control and cattle grazing treatments (P < 0.05). Overall, pastures were utilized more uniformly in mixed grazing compared to other treatments. Mixed grazing goats with cattle appear to be a viable option for livestock producers in the Appalachian coal mining region. / Master of Science