The establishment of Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis (Wyoming big sagebrush) when sown with three perennial cool-season native grasses; Pascopyrum smithii (western wheatgrass), Elymus lanceolatus (thickspike wheatgrass) and Elymus trachycaulus (slender wheatgrass) on a reclamation site at the Belle Ayr Coal Mine in northeastern Wyoming (44° 17’ N; 105° 30’ W) was evaluated from 1998-2000. Topsoil was returned to the sites in late 1997 and early 1998 with barley planted on the site over the summer of 1998. Seven grass seeding treatments 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 14 kg pure live seed (pls)/ha were established in late 1998. In March, of the following year three Wyoming big sagebrush seeding treatments (1, 2, or 4 kg pls/ha) was planted in each of the grass seeding treatments. To mimic reclamation procedures the site was mowed in June 1999. Air temperatures, soil temperatures and precipitation events were recorded weekly. Gravimetric soil moisture and soil samples were collected. Six vegetation sampling events occurred from June 1999 to September 2000 to determine sagebrush seedling density and grass culm density. Aboveground biomass was accomplished by clipping, sorting (planted grasses, exotic grasses, native forbs and exotic forbs) and drying plant material from each sub-plot.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.