Plant Community Composition and Net Primary Production within a Native Eastern North Dakota Prairie

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Abstract
The community composition and net primary production were studied for six community types within a native tallgrass prairie in eastern North Dakota. Estimates of green herbage production and litter weight were made using the harvest method. Six community types were examined: Poa-Andropogon-Stipa on upland ridges with very low soil salinity and good internal drainage, Bromus-Poa communities on small mounds having low soil salinity and good internal drainage, Poa-Melilotus communities on a previously plowed low ridge, with somewhat saline soil with good internal drainage, Distichlis-Hordeum-Poa on lowland sites with moderate soil salinity and poor drainage, Distichlis-Hordeum communities on lowland soils with still higher soil salinity and poorer drainage, and Salicornia-Suaeda communities on lowland sites with poorest drainage, highest soil salinity, and highest soil moisture. Floristically, the first type was the richest (46 species) and the last, the poorest (only 4 species). Maximum observed green herbage weight within the six community types ranged from 109 to 353 grams/square meter; the first, second, and fourth community types being significantly higher than the others. Lowest green herbage weight was recorded in the Salicornia-Suaeda communities. Litter weight within the unburned communities was highly uniform and ranged from 368 to 473 grams.