Big sagebrush transplanting success in crested wheatgrass stands

Authors: Clements, Darin - Charlie; Harmon, Daniel - Dan

Submitted to: The Progressive Rancher
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2021
Publication Date: 11/9/2021
Citation: Clements, D.D., Harmon, D.N. 2021. Big sagebrush transplanting success in crested wheatgrass stands. The Progressive Rancher. 21(8):14-17.

Interpretive Summary: Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. Wyomingensis) is a dominant shrub species on millions of acres of rangelands throughout the Intermountain West and plays a critical role in the health and diversity of many wildlife species such as sage grouse and mule deer. The accidental introduction and subsequent invasion of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) throughout the Intermountain West has truncated secondary succession by providing a fine-textured, early maturing fuel that increases the chance, rate, spread and season of wildfires. Natural recruitment of Wyoming big sagebrush is well reported, yet the natural recruitment of Wyoming big sagebrush following wildfire is very limited. Wyoming big sagebrush does not re-sprout following wildfires, it does not build persistent seed banks and it does not have an active wind or granivore dispersal system with the vast majority of seed being dispersed within a meter of the shrub. Restoration practices to re-establish Wyoming big sagebrush has largely been met with sub-marginal success, yet the need to restore or rehabilitate Wyoming big sagebrush has become increasingly important due to these extensive losses of big sagebrush habitats following the more frequent large catastrophic wildfires. Seeding Wyoming big sagebrush in existing crested wheatgrass seedings has been reported to be largely unsuccessful, therefore transplanting of big sagebrush has become more popular. More recent data from northern Nevada reported from 2-40% success during spring Wyoming big sagebrush transplanting efforts. We designed an experiment to test the success of big sagebrush seedlings transplanted in existing crested wheatgrass seedings in the spring (March) compared to the fall (November) of the year. Transplanted Wyoming big sagebrush experienced the highest success, 62%, in the fall transplanting efforts at the Peterson site, while the lowest transplanting success was recorded at the Dry valley site in the spring transplanting plots, 13%. The Peterson site recorded a 43% success when transplanted in the spring, nearly a 20% decrease from fall. The fall transplants at the Dry Valley site recorded 38% success. The results of this research suggest that Wyoming big sagebrush can be successful transplanted into existing crested wheatgrass seedings and improve cover, browse and diversification of crested wheatgrass stands and not only continue to provide grazing resources, but also provide future critical habitat for wildlife.

Technical Abstract: Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. Wyomingensis) is a dominant shrub species on millions of acres of rangelands throughout the Intermountain West and plays a critical role in the health and diversity of many wildlife species such as sage grouse and mule deer. The accidental introduction and subsequent invasion of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) throughout the Intermountain West has truncated secondary succession by providing a fine-textured, early maturing fuel that increases the chance, rate, spread and season of wildfires. Natural recruitment of Wyoming big sagebrush is well reported, yet the natural recruitment of Wyoming big sagebrush following wildfire is very limited. Wyoming big sagebrush does not re-sprout following wildfires, it does not build persistent seed banks and it does not have an active wind or granivore dispersal system with the vast majority of seed being dispersed within a meter of the shrub. Restoration practices to re-establish Wyoming big sagebrush has largely been met with sub-marginal success, yet the need to restore or rehabilitate Wyoming big sagebrush has become increasingly important due to these extensive losses of big sagebrush habitats following the more frequent large catastrophic wildfires. Seeding Wyoming big sagebrush in existing crested wheatgrass seedings has been reported to be largely unsuccessful, therefore transplanting of big sagebrush has become more popular. More recent data from northern Nevada reported from 2-40% success during spring Wyoming big sagebrush transplanting efforts. We designed an experiment to test the success of big sagebrush seedlings transplanted in existing crested wheatgrass seedings in the spring (March) compared to the fall (November) of the year. Transplanted Wyoming big sagebrush experienced the highest success, 62%, in the fall transplanting efforts at the Peterson site, while the lowest transplanting success was recorded at the Dry valley site in the spring transplanting plots, 13%. The Peterson site recorded a 43% success when transplanted in the spring, nearly a 20% decrease from fall. The fall transplants at the Dry Valley site recorded 38% success. The results of this research suggest that Wyoming big sagebrush can be successful transplanted into existing crested wheatgrass seedings and improve cover, browse and diversification of crested wheatgrass stands and not only continue to provide grazing resources, but also provide future critical habitat for wildlife.