Rangeland Ecology & Management

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GLYPHOSATE AS A TOOL TO INCREASE LIVESTOCK CONSUMPTION OF MEDUSAHEAD ON ANNUAL GRASS INVADED RANGELANDS
Author
Stonecipher, Clint
Spackman, Casey
Panter, Kip
Villalba, Juan
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2018
Body

Invasive annual grasses are altering vegetation dynamics in the Western U.S., decreasing plant diversity and altering forage availability for livestock and wildlife. Preparation and reseeding annual grass invaded rangelands is necessary to change vegetation structure and a combination of input methods is typically required to achieve that goal. Herbicide application to control medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) is one tool recommended prior to revegetation. Herbicide application can be used prior to medusahead maturity to stop plant growth, preserve forage quality, and potentially increase palatability for livestock. In this study, we evaluated the application of glyphosate at three rates in the spring prior to medusahead maturity to determine if it would stop plant growth and increase palatability for livestock. Glyphosate treatment occurred in April at four rates: 1) 236 g ae ha-1, 2) 394 g ae ha-1, and 3) 788 g ae ha-1, and 4) 0 g ae ha-1, on plots measuring 3 m by 15 m. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatment plots were placed within a larger pasture of 89 ha that was treated with glyphosate at 788 g ae ha-1. Cattle were allowed to graze the 89 ha pasture with free access to treatment plots from May through September. Vegetation measurements were taken prior to herbicide application, two weeks after herbicide application, and after grazing to determine biomass production and forage quality. Glyphosate applied at all three rates halted growth of medusahead and preserved water soluble carbohydrates. Livestock consumed medusahead biomass at all three application rates of glyphosate with the largest decrease occurring at the 788 g ae ha-1 (P < 0.05). Glyphosate is a tool that can be applied to medusahead invaded rangelands to stop plant growth and preserve nutrients, thus increasing palatability of medusahead to livestock.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Reno, NV