12 



the "average" mountain meadow in Colorado, the results will vary somewhat 

 from the calcula'ted value presented here. Within reasonable limits, the 

 increased production associated with nitrogen applications will approximate 

 what can be expected from an average "good" mountain meadow in Colorado. 



These experiments demonstrate also that application of phosphate ferti- 

 lizer will increase production on mountain meadows. As shown in table 2, 

 the average yield on all ranches was increased by 0. 18 ton in the year 19 52. 

 The effects of phosphate fertilizer, unlike nitrogen, are not exhausted rap- 

 idly. They may influence yields over a period of time - usually a minimum 

 of 5 years when 200 pounds of P2O5 are applied. This would mean that a 

 rancher could reasonably expect an average increase of 0. 9 ton of hay and 

 an increase in crude protein content of approximately 0. 5 percent for the 5 

 years. Data from other experiments in Colorado are consistent with these 

 results. 



Results of experiments on station plots frequently show higher yields than 

 those obtained by ranchers. On the Blackstock experimental plots, near 

 Gunnison, Colo. , nitrogen response averages approximately 11 percent more 

 than the average response ranchers received. This figure is almost the same 

 as that obtained by Cooper and Sawyer when they compared the results from 

 station experiments with off-station trials. On the average, the difference 

 in yields was 10. 69 percent; it varied from 14. 50 to 5. 38 percent. 4/ Data 

 from experimental plots may be used as a basis for economic analysis, if 

 corrections in expected yields and responses to fertilizer and other practices 

 are made. Corrections of this kind have been made wherever experimental 

 data are used in this analysis. The data in table 2, however, were not cor- 

 rected because these data are not from experimental plots. 



Two -Cut System of Harvesting 



This method of harvesting is not usually practiced by mountain meadow 

 ranchers. In most instances, the purpose of the system is primarily to 

 increase the protein content of hay when the effect on yield is of secondary 

 importance. Willhite and Rouse 5/ measured the results of a two-cut versus 

 a one-cut system of harvesting on the Blackstock Station (table 3). 



4/ Cooper, C. S. and Sawyer, W. A. Fertilization of Mountain Meadows 

 in~Eas tern Oregon. Jour. Range Mangt. 8:20-22. 1955. 



_5/ Willhite, F. M. , and Rouse, H. K." Colorado Mountain Meadow Annual 

 Reports, 1952 and 1953. Fort Collins, U. S. Agricultural Research Service, 

 Soil and Water Conservation Branch. (Mimeographed. ) 



