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Increasing native diversity of cheatgrass-dominated rangeland through assisted succession
Author
Cox, Robert D.
Anderson, Val Jo
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2004-03-01
Body

Increasing attention, resources and efforts are being focused on the conversion of weedy dominated rangelands back to perennial plant communities that resemble predisturbance communities in form, function and composition. A study was conducted in 1998 and replicated again in 1999 to determine whether native plants could be established through “assisted succession” - manipulating a cheatgrass-dominated area to perennial plant domination, then to native or near-native diversity. Cheatgrass dominated rangeland that had been successfully revegetated with crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L.] Gaertner) was seeded with native species. Another area dominated by cheatgrass, but without crested wheatgrass, was also seeded. Four seedbed preparation methods were investigated: tilling, harrowing, application of a herbicide, and no treatment. Four different seeding methods were used in the 2 areas and 4 seedbed preparation techniques: drilling, broadcasting, a broadcast-cover method, and no seed. Seeding was done in February, and data were collected in mid-summer each year. Native grasses and shrubs emerged in greater numbers on treatments established on the crested wheatgrass matrix than on those established on the cheatgrass matrix. Perhaps in general, but especially in years with normal or below average precipitation, the assisted succession approach proved successful for restoration of native sagebrush-grassland steppe from cheatgrass range. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2111/1551-5028(2004)057[0203:INDOCR]2.0.CO;2
Additional Information
Cox, R. D., & Anderson, V. J. (2004). Increasing native diversity of cheatgrass-dominated rangeland through assisted succession. Journal of Range Management, 57(2), 203-210.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/643523
Journal Volume
57
Journal Number
2
Journal Pages
203-210
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
cheatgrass
crested wheatgrass
rangeland reseeding
restoration
sagebrush steppe