Rangeland Ecology & Management

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RANGELAND RESTORATION: A METHOD TO MITIGATE LUPINE-INDUCED CROOKED CALF SYNDROME ON THE CHANNELED SCABLANDS OF EASTERN WASHINGTON
Author
Evans, Kenneth S.
Wingeyer, Ana B.
Mamo, Martha
Schacht, Walter H.
Sutton, Pamela J.
Villalba, Juan J.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2014
Body

The Channeled Scablands of east-central Washington include over 2,000 square miles of rangeland important to livestock and wildlife grazing. Because of overgrazing in the past, frequent wildfires and historic range mismanagement, annual grasses and undesirable forbs have invaded most of this area degrading the value of the rangelands and interfering with optimum utilization. Some forbs are potentially poisonous to livestock; lupines are responsible for 1-5% annual losses because of “crooked calf syndrome” (CCS). Larger losses frequently occur on individual ranches and occasional catastrophic losses occur when lupine populations explode following above average rainfall. Restoration efforts using improved perennial grasses and selected forbs (forage kochia) will increase forage production and sustainability on these degraded rangelands. The objective of this study was to determine if improved or native cool-season perennial grasses and/or forage kochia could be established on the harsh landscape of the scablands, and if these improved species will compete with the annual grasses and provide a higher quality of feed to prevent cattle from grazing lupine in late summer. A plot study was set up with 8 treatments in 4 replications at 3 different ranches across a 25 mile transect within Adams County. The grass species included ‘Vavilov II' Siberian wheatgrass (Agropyron fragile), ‘Bozoisky II' Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea), ‘Hycrest II' crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and a native mix consisting of ‘Sherman' Big bluegrass (Poa secunda), ‘Recovery' western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), ‘Secar' Snake River wheatgrass (Elymus wawawaiensis), and ‘Bannock' Thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus). Three species of forage kochia, including Kochia prostrata, were used. Forage production was highest in the native mix early in the season (1899 kg/ha; p<0.01) with Vavilov II production increasing later in the season (2443 kg/ha; p<0.01). The establishment of the forage kochia was variable but demonstrated that this forb can be established in the Channeled Scablands.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Orlando, FL