Author
|
Submitted to: Society for Ecological Restoration Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2007 Publication Date: 9/24/2007 Citation: Davies, K.W., Sheley, R.L. 2007. Revegetation success of medusahead-infested rangelands with plateau® and prescribed burning [abstract]. Society for Ecological Restoration Northwest Chapter.p.37. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski) is an invasive annual grass that is rapidly invading rangelands. Medusahead invasion reduces the productivity and biodiversity of rangelands. Efforts to control medusahead and revegetation infested rangelands are often unsuccessful. We evaluated the effects of seven treatments on controlling medusahead and the establishment of desert wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) J.A. Schultes). Treatments were spring burning, fall burning, spring burning with Plateau (imazapic) application (5 oz/acre), fall burning with Plateau application, Plateau application, no treatment, and no treatment without desert wheatgrass (control). Desert wheatgrass was drill seeded at 15 lbs/acre in all treatments except for the control treatment. Six sites dominated by a near monoculture of medusahead were selected to evaluate treatment effects. Treatments were randomly applied at each site. Preliminary results indicated that applying Plateau and burning with Plateau application reduced medusahead more than other treatments in the first year post-application. However, these treatments appear to reduce the density and cover of native forbs more than other treatments. Our preliminary data suggest the applying Plateau is more successful than either spring or fall burns at controlling medusahead, but that Plateau has a more negative effect on native vegetation than prescribed burning. Long-term evaluation of treatments is needed to determine the long-term control of medusahead and establishment of desert wheatgrass in the infestations. |
