Rangeland Ecology & Management

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PLANTING DESIRABLE GRASSES TO OUTCOMPETE MEDUSAHEAD.
Author
Becchetti, Theresa
Davy, Josh
Doran, Morgan
Harper, John
Lile, David
Barry, Sheila
Larsen, Royce
James, Jeremy
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2016
Body

Rangeland managers in the west are challenged with trying to control medusahead (Elymus caput-medusae). Medusahead is found in virtually every county in California and has been spreading rapidly. Research continues to attempt to find long term solutions that are economically viable for ranchers to utilize. Many prior efforts have demonstrated that seeding of perennial grasses can potentially outcompete medusahead. In this trial we planted a variety of native perennial, introduced perennial, and introduced annual grasses on the foothill annual rangeland and intermountain rangelands. In the first year of the trial we established site locations, applied weed control, and seeded six different grasses using either a no-till drill or by broadcast and harrowing seed. Preplant weed control was very successful at most sites, with the cover of medusahead at all sites combined ranging from 2-3% in the treated areas and 27% and higher in the control areas. All sites harrowed, including the two intermountain sites, provided less than satisfactory stands. All drilled plots looked very promising in having an opportunity for successful establishment. In year 3 we seeded an annual clover mix containing subterranean clover, vetch, and rose clover into all of the sites that we considered successful in initially establishing the previous year. We will continue to evaluate these plantings in the upcoming growing seasons and include grazing to evaluate their ability to survive under normal management scenarios. Our data to date looks like seeding can be a viable option for ranchers and land managers to consider. We will also present a cost analysis of the different species we planted.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Corpus Christi, TX