Field Projects

Field Project
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Introduction
Relative the amount of time and space, the plot chosen is in the temperate grassland. It is a plot that is two meters by two meters. The temperate grasslands are composed of a great richness in grasses and a few shrubs and trees that are scattered across the plains (Defenders of Wildlife, 2012). It is quite expansive and thus sampling one plot can be quite a task, however in this case the plot was selected at random. The plot chosen does not have any trees or shrubs. The plot is oriented with the compass, such that each side of the plot is aligned with one direction of the compass.
Plot
On the plot there are quite a number of species of grass, which make the plot one of the richest in the surrounding area. However, in this case only two of the available organisms will be under the study relative to the scope requirements. The main species that are going to be under study are the Purple Needle Grass and the Blue Grama that are quite spread-out in the plot of choice. The two organisms chosen are different in characteristics and can easily be identified from one another on the plot, with respect to the presence or their absence (Plants.usda.gov, 2015b).
Purple needle grass
Kingdom-plantae
Subkingdom-Tracheobionta
Superdivision-Spermatophyta
Division-Magnoliophyta
Class-Liliopsida
Subclass-Commelinidae
Order-Cyperales
Family-Poaceae
Genus-Nassella
Species-Nassella pulchra
This is an organism that is perennial, which develops culms that can grow to the height of about 24-39 inches (Plants.usda.gov, 2015b). It produces nodding panicles that can be between 4 to 8 inches which are also open, while the leaves tend to be 0.8 to 3.5 mm wide. It is a plant that expands its reach vegetatively. The mycorrhizal is arbuscular and has a rooting depth estimated at 25 inches especially in the deep soils.
The other species that is going to be under consideration is the Blue Grama grass, which is also quite spread out in the plot (Plants.usda.gov, 2015a).
Blue grama
Kingdom-Plantae
Subkingdom-Tracheobionta
Superkingdom-Spermatophyta
Division-Magniliophyta
Class-Liliopsida
Subclass-Commelinidae
Order-Cyperales
Family-Poaceae
Genus-Bouteloua
Species-Bouteloua gracilis
This is also a perennial grass, which is native and makes up more than 75% of the grasses in the prairies. This organism reproduces through seeds alone and can grow to a height of about 20 inches, bending into a curve that can be seen to look like the eye lashes of a human being (Plants.usda.gov, 2015a). One of its main characteristics is associated with the fact that it is draught resistant and also survives growing in highly alkaline soils. It also forms part of the most palatable grasses and nutritious to the animals in the grassland.
The plot was subdivided into four parts along the compass directions. Such that there are plots labeled North West, North East, South West and South East. Out of the four sampling units of the plot, the blue grama grass took the highest percentage of presence, while the purple needle grass took the second position. The samples taken were done using a 10cm2 wire, formed into a square. The square was rand...