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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #391043
Research Project: Restoration and Conservation of Great Basin Ecosystems

Location: Range and Meadow Forage Management Research

Title: Off-season grazing reduces exotic annual grasses and increases a native bunchgrass

Author
item Davies, Kirk
item Boyd, Chad
item Copeland, Stella
item Bates, Jonathan - Jon

Submitted to: Oregon Cattleman
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2022
Publication Date: 3/1/2022
Citation: Davies, K.W., Boyd, C.S., Copeland, S.M., Bates, J.D. 2022. Off-season grazing reduces exotic annual grasses and increases a native bunchgrass. Oregon Cattleman. 6(3):30-33.

Interpretive Summary: Management is needed to reduce exotic annual grasses to prevent sagebrush-bunchgrass communities from transitioning to exotic annual grasslands. Prior research suggests that grazing in the fall-winter may reduce exotic annual grasses, but has not been evaluated in sagebrush-bunchgrass communities. We investigated the effects of fall-winter grazing by cattle in sagebrush-bunchgrass communities that were moderately invaded by annual grasses. Fall-winter grazing reduced exotic annual grasses and increased the abundance of Sandberg bluegrass, a native bunchgrass. Abundance of other native vegetation was not influenced by fall-winter grazing. These results suggest that fall-winter grazing can be a valuable tool for reducing exotic annual grasses. This study is of interest to land and wildlife managers, policy makers, and scientists.

Technical Abstract: Management is needed to reduce exotic annual grasses to prevent sagebrush-bunchgrass communities from transitioning to exotic annual grasslands. Prior research suggests that grazing in the fall-winter may reduce exotic annual grasses, but has not been evaluated in sagebrush-bunchgrass communities. We investigated the effects of fall-winter grazing by cattle in sagebrush-bunchgrass communities that were moderately invaded by annual grasses. Fall-winter grazing reduced exotic annual grasses and increased the abundance of Sandberg bluegrass, a native bunchgrass. Abundance of other native vegetation was not influenced by fall-winter grazing. These results suggest that fall-winter grazing can be a valuable tool for reducing exotic annual grasses. This study is of interest to land and wildlife managers, policy makers, and scientists.