Revitalizing the Use of Crested Wheatgrass (Agropyron Cristatum, (l.) Gaertn.) for the Management of Annual Invasive Grasses PDF Download

Author: Emily Blaine Repas
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Cheatgrass brome
Languages : en
Pages : 72

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Book Description
While crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum, (L.) Gaertn.) is no longer used on public lands because it is a dominant, non-native species, its perennial life cycle, ability to resist invasion, and lack of spread may still be useful for improving reclamation in severely disturbed areas. The purpose of this study was to revisit and expand up the ideas of ‘assisted succession’ in Wyoming using crested wheatgrass as proposed by Cox and Anderson (2004). Success of different vegetation management and revegetation methods were compared between downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and crested wheatgrass to determine if the management of crested wheatgrass was easier. Soil attributes were also compared between crested wheatgrass, downy brome, and a reference community. Other portions of this study explored invasion resistant properties during and after crested wheatgrass establishment and how this species influences the weed seed bank. We found that tillage and tillage+glyphosate treatments were more successful in crested wheatgrass rather than a severe invasion, and that soil beneath crested wheatgrass demonstrates biochemical properties comparable to the soil beneath native vegetation. Lower seeding rates of crested wheatgrass can also be used to achieve the same amount of invasion resistance at the time of establishment than traditional rates. Lastly, while there is no direct correlation between crested wheatgrass and the amount of downy brome seed in an area, downy brome is still prevented from establishing and producing seed in a stand of crested wheatgrass. This study supports the viability of assisted succession using crested wheatgrass.