A Trojan horse on the Great Plains: Landowner thresholds, coping capacity, and management of Kentucky bluegrass

Authors: KIANDRA, RAJALA - Us Fish And Wildlife Service; Toledo, David; SORICE, MICHAEL - Virginia Tech

Submitted to: Rangeland Ecology and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2023
Publication Date: 9/1/2023
Citation: Kiandra, R., Toledo, D.N., Sorice, M. 2023. A Trojan horse on the Great Plains: Landowner thresholds, coping capacity, and management of Kentucky bluegrass. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 91:11-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2023.07.006.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2023.07.006

Interpretive Summary: Kentucky bluegrass, a grass that is not native to the grasslands of the northern Great Plains is taking over, harming the grasses that are supposed to be there and harming the productivity and function of those grasslands. Effective management techniques for Kentucky bluegrass can only be developed if we understand what people who own and manage the land think about this grass and how they are currently dealing with it. We used a mail survey conducted in North Dakota, to ask about what landowners thought about this grass, whether they had it on their land, and whether they had plans to manage it. Our results showed that not many people had a plan to manage this grass, and those who did thought it was hard to do so. Most people do not think they can control this grass effectively. This research is important for researchers, extension, and land managers. The research showed that there is a need for scientists and managers to work together to come up with management solutions that are effective and that managers are willing and able to use.

Technical Abstract: Kentucky bluegrass, a cool-season grass, has become an invasive species in the rangelands of the northern Great Plains. Its competitive nature and early spring growth give it an advantage over native cool season grasses and leading to a decrease in other plant species negatively impacting multiple ecosystem services. Effective management techniques for Kentucky bluegrass can only be developed if the perceptions and abilities of landowners are considered. A mail survey conducted in North Dakota, USA, examined the relationship between landowners' primary land use, exposure to Kentucky bluegrass, familiarity with the species, beliefs, perceptions, and tolerance about bluegrass, and their management goals to control or reduce it. The results showed that less than half of the landowners surveyed had a management goal for Kentucky bluegrass, and among those with such goals, the perceived capacity to cope with the species was moderate to low. The majority of landowners who wanted to decrease the abundance of Kentucky bluegrass on their rangelands did not believe they could effectively do so. This highlights the need for the rangeland science and extension community to develop effective and feasible management techniques and promote the findings that provide effective solutions. Participatory processes that include diverse stakeholders can provide social learning environments conducive to joint exploration of problems and refinement of actionable solutions.