Revegetation of Medusahead-Invaded Sagebrush Steppe |
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| Authors: | Kirk W Davies |
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| Institution: | 1. Research Ecologist, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Reno, NV 89509, USA;2. Sagebrush Ecosystem Specialist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Redmond, OR 97756, USA;3. Research Ecologist, US Geological Survey, Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;5. Rangeland Ecologist, USDI Bureau of Land Management, Boise, ID 83709, USA;6. Presidential Management Fellow, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Regional Office, Golden, CO 80401, USA;1. Rangeland Ecologist, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT 59301, USA;2. Rangeland Technician, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT 59301, USA;3. Soil Conservationist, US Dept of Agriculture–Natural Resources Conservation Service, John Day, OR 97845, USA;1. Rangeland Restoration Academic Coordinator, Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Browns Valley, CA 95918, USA;2. Cooperative Extension Specialist, Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Browns Valley, CA 95918, USA;3. Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, San Jose, CA 95112, USA;4. Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Modesto, CA 95358, USA;5. Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Red Bluff, CA 96080, USA;6. Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Woodland, CA 95695, USA;7. Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Redding, CA 96002, USA;8. Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Ukiah, CA 95482, USA;9. Area Natural Resource and Watershed Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Templeton, CA 93465, USA;10. Livestock and Range Management Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, USA;11. Graduate Student, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;12. Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;1. Range Scientists, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)?Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC), Burns, OR 97720, USA;2. Former Range Technicians at EOARC, Botanist, US Forest Service, Eagle River, WI 54521, USA;3. Research Leader, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)?Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC), Burns, OR 97720, USA;4. Former Range Technicians at EOARC, Ph.D. Candidate, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;5. Rangeland Ecologist, EOARC-Oregon State University, Burns, OR 97720, USA.;1. Rangeland Scientist, USDA-ARS Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA.;2. Research Assistant, USDA-ARS Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA.;3. Assistant Professor, Oregon State University, Burns, OR 97720, USA. |
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| Abstract: | Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae L.] Nevski) is an exotic annual grass invading western rangelands. Invasion by medusahead is problematic because it decreases livestock forage production, degrades wildlife habitat, reduces biodiversity, and increases fire frequency. Revegetation of medusahead-invaded sagebrush steppe is needed to increase ecosystem and economic productivity. Most efforts to revegetate medusahead-infested plant communities are unsuccessful because perennial bunchgrasses rarely establish after medusahead control. The effects of prescribed burning (spring or fall), fall imazapic application, and their combinations were evaluated for medusahead control and the establishment of seeded large perennial bunchgrasses. One growing season after treatments were applied, desert wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum Fisch. ex Link] Schult.) and squirreltail (Elymus elymoides Raf.] Swezey) were drill seeded into treatment plots, except for the control treatment. Vegetation characteristics were measured for 2 yr postseeding (second and third year post-treatment). Medusahead was best controlled when prescribed burned and then treated with imazapic (P < 0.05). These treatments also had greater large perennial bunchgrass cover and density compared to other treatments (P < 0.05). The prescribed burned followed by imazapic application had greater than 10- and 8-fold more perennial bunchgrass cover and density than the control treatment, respectively. Prescribed burning, regardless of season, was not effective at controlling medusahead or promoting establishment of perennial bunchgrasses. The results of this study question the long-term effectiveness of using imazapic in revegetation efforts of medusahead-infested sagebrush steppe without first prescribed burning the infestation. Effective control of medusahead appears to be needed for establishment of seeded perennial bunchgrasses. The results of this study demonstrate that seeding desert wheatgrass and squirreltail can successfully revegetate rangeland infested with medusahead when medusahead has been controlled with prescribed fire followed by fall application of imazapic. |
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