Get reliable science

Research can play an important role in generating useful information for rangeland managers. However, the "how" in linking research with the information managers need is not well described. How does one practically design research that generates information that is relevant and applicable to managers? And how to do this while ensuring adequate replication, sample size and monitoring given limited resources? This presentation details one such example from a small-scale experiment in northwestern Colorado on seeding strategies for managing whitetop (Cardaria draba (L.) Desv.). Local land managers, ranchers, and researchers worked together to collaboratively define a local issue of interest, brainstorm potential treatments that would be feasible, and implement treatments in an applied, experimental framework. The group chose to determine the effects of broadcast seeding native and non-invasive grasses, with and without harrowing, on native grass establishment and whitetop abundance following the application of chemical herbicide to reduce whitetop. We expect that this experiment will inform the evaluation of costs and benefits of seeding treatments in infested areas. Treatments were applied in the fall of 2014 in two, 29.2 m by 14.6 m blocks that were each divided into 6 plots each. We applied each treatment to 2 plots per block for a total of four replications. The remaining 2 plots per block were used as non-seeded, non-harrowed controls. We monitored canopy cover and density by functional group before and after applying treatments. Here we present results from two years of monitoring of the effectiveness of treatments. We also describe the learning outcomes for the researchers, managers and ranchers involved in the experiment. This experiment is one example of a collaboration that engaged the skills and experience of managers and researchers to develop knowledge for manager-defined natural resource issues.