PRODUCTION AND NITROGEN CONTENT OF HERBAGE IN A SILVERBERRY (ELAEAGNUS COMMUTATA) COMMUNITY COMPARED TO ADJACENT GRASSLAND AND FOREST COMMUNITIES

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Abstract
Production and nitrogen content of herbage growing under the nitrogen-fixing shrub silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata Bernh.) was compared with that in adjacent grassland and aspen poplar (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) forest communities. The soil was an outwash sand over lacustrine clay and a water table was present. The greatest cover and highest production of desirable forage plants, particularly Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), occurred in the silverberry community. The percentage nitrogen in grass and sedge (Carex spp.), forbs and baltic rush (Juncus balticus Willd.) was higher under silverberry than in the grassland. Similar results occurred when the silverberry and poplar communities were compared, with the exception of baltic rush which demonstrated no difference in percentage nitrogen. There was no difference in herbage production between the grassland and silverberry communities, but the change in vegetative composition and the increased nitrogen content made the forage in the silverberry community more desirable for grazing livestock. The shrub silverberry was beneficial to the growth of desirable forages, whereas aspen and balsam poplar in the forest community reduced herbage production by 63% on these rangelands. Poplar stands growing adjacent to silverberry stands had higher tree production, higher percentage nitrogen in leaves and litter and a greater quantity of nitrogen in above-ground parts than in poplar stands growing a distance away from silverberry.

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