Integrated cheatgrass control from herbicides to perennial restoration seeding

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

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2024
Publication Date: 3/19/2024
Citation: Harmon, D.N., Clements, D.D. 2024. Integrated cheatgrass control from herbicides to perennial restoration seeding. Meeting Abstract. 24:4.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Integrated weed management involves the use of multiple economically and environmentally sound strategies to manage and mitigate weed populations. Here, we review two main components of sustainable cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) management, herbicide control and rehabilitation seeding. Herbicide use with cheatgrass is intended as a short-term control method that opens a window of opportunity to establish long-lived perennial grasses that are keystone components of a resilient and resistant plant community in the Great Basin. Our research examines comparisons between commonly used herbicides like imazapic and products newer to the cheatgrass management field like indaziflam. Our data finds significant increases of soil resources like moisture and nitrogen, when cheatgrass is controlled using herbicides. We have observed a doubling of soil moisture and a 10-fold increase in soil nitrate after herbicide use. We also address herbicide control of lower successional weeds, such as Russian thistle (Salsola spp.) that may dominate after cheatgrass control. We also present an overview of the Great Basin Rangelands Research unit plant material testing program with seeding strategies to maximize success. Re-vegetation is commonly required for sustainable cheatgrass control in the Great Basin. Individual perennial grass species and seed mixes will be reviewed based on our field seeding research establishment data. Concepts like cheatgrass biological suppression will also be presented.