Challenges in establishing perennial species and decreasing cheatgrass densities in arid environments

Authors: Clements, Darin - Charlie; Harmon, Daniel - Dan; YOUNG, JAMES - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: The Progressive Rancher
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2022
Publication Date: 1/9/2023
Citation: Clements, D.D., Harmon, D.N., Young, J. 2023. Challenges in establishing perennial species and decreasing cheatgrass densities in arid environments. The Progressive Rancher. 23(1):16-19.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: It is well documented how difficult of a task resource managers have when attempting to restore or rehabilitate disturbed or degraded habitats throughout the Great Basin. These challenges are multiplied many times over when attempting to restore or rehabilitate severely arid habitats. Rangeland revegetation has been around for more than a century and many experienced researchers have cautioned future researchers on the numerous challenges that lay ahead when addressing the restoration or rehabilitation of range sites that are not only degraded but are also severely limited by lack of effective amount and periodicity of annual precipitation. Sites that regularly receive less than 7” of annual precipitation often lack the necessary precipitation to achieve any level of revegetation success. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit has a long history dating back to the 1950’s in invasive weed control and revegetation of arid environments throughout the Great Basin. Pioneer research scientists Raymond Evans, Richard Eckert and James Young laid the foundation for range improvement practices to successfully seed desirable perennial species in arid environments as well as a better understanding of the role exotic and invasive annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, play in out-competing perennial species at the seedling stage and truncating secondary succession by providing an early maturing, fine-textured fuel that has increased the chance, rate, spread and season of wildfire throughout the Great Basin and Intermountain West. Here we try and report on two long-term study sites of three separate precipitation zones and the important role the amount and periodicity of precipitation plays in conjunction with proper weed control practices and plant material testing to improve seeding success and decrease cheatgrass densities and associated fuels. In our experience, the amount and periodicity of precipitation along with effective weed control treatments are critical in restoring or rehabilitating degraded Great Basin rangelands. Our decades of attempting weed control practices, testing a variety of native and introduced perennial grasses, shrubs and forbs as well as collecting precipitation data from the site on a regular basis has resulted in many failed attempts as well as successful attempts to establish desirable perennial vegetation and improve grazing and wildlife resources. The continued testing of weed control treatments, newly developed plant materials, innovative seed coating, etc. are doors that should remain open and may show promise in this effort to allow researchers an opportunity to develop and disseminate new and novel techniques to assist agriculture producers to develop and implement sustainable livestock practices in the Great Basin while in concert with improving wildlife habitats.