Low-energy Grubbing for Control of Junipers

Low-energy grubbing was effective and economical in controlling sparse to moderate stands of junipers infesting rangeland. A small, 48.5-kW (65-hp), shift-on-the-go crawler tractor, as compared to tractors larger than 74.5kW (100-hp) normally used, was adapted for grubbing by attaching a U-shape blade to the front mounted C-frame for root cutting at depths of 15 to 30 cm. A 98% plant kill was achieved because uprooting of trees below the bud-zone prevented sprouting. The newly designed hydraulic attachment significantly improved tree uprooting. Grubbing rate was a curvilinear function of juniper density and varied approximately from 4.0 to 0.5 ha/hr (10 to 1.25 ac/hr) to remove 80 to 500 trees/ha (30 to 200 trees/acre). Cost varied from $6.00 to $50.00/ha ($2.40 to $20.00/acre).This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202