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95 <br />This can be explained in part by the greater adaptability of native <br />plant species to the lower nutrient levels found in native rangelands. <br />i <br />Total Biomass of Seeded Species. There is a trend across all three <br />seed mixtures for higher biomass production on the deeper soil-shale <br />profiles (Panels 3, 5, and 6)(Figure 34). This greater biomass produc- <br />® tion on the deeper profiles is caused in part by the ability to store an <br />® .increased amount of soil moisture. This fact is supported by subsurface <br />moisture readings within the profiles as reported earlier. <br />The combination seed mixture had the highest overall biomass of any <br />seed mixture across all panels. It showed a dramatic rise in biomass <br />production on the deepest soil-shale profiles (Panels 3 and 6). The <br />® native seed mixture was intermediate in biomass production while the <br />introduced seed mixture had the lowest overall production. Although the <br />introduced seed mixture had the lowest biomass overall, it had the <br />greatest biomass production on Panel 4. This was somewhat unusual as <br />competition was the greatest on Panel 4 because of the indigenous seed <br />® source present. <br />Total Biomass of Grasses. The total biomass of seeded and invading <br />grass species varied significantly (P=.0155) according to seed mixture. <br />Plots seeded with the introduced seed mixture had significantly higher <br />biomass of seeded and invading grass species than those seeded with the <br />a native seed mixture. This same response was also observed when seeded <br />grass species were examined separately. But, when looking at the biomass <br />of only invading species, the combination seed mixture contained a <br />significantly greater biomass than either the native cr introduced seed <br />• mixtures. The introduced seed mixtures which had the greatest overall <br /> <br />