This handbook is not designed to be a comprehensive compilation of all literature related to cheatgrass, but rather a guide to assist land managers and others with developing a cheatgrass management program. Cheatgrass halogeton medusahead perennial pepperweed. A managers guide 11 mb threatbased land management in the northern great basin. Cheatgrass identification and management background information. Cheatgrass and wildfire csu extension colorado state university. Cheatgrass is able to alter natural fire conditions through its particular life history characteristics. Potential spread of cheatgrass and other invasive species. Like a sports agent, the fish and wildlife service. This handbook is designed as a quick and ready reference of weed control practices used in various cropping systems or sitessituations in utah, montana and wyoming. The handbook is revised every 2 years and is available from the bulletin rooms at montana state university 4069943273, utah state university 4357972251 and the university of wyoming 3077662115. Cheatgrass challenge idaho nrcs planning and program. Cheatgrass identification and management background information history and impacts cheatgrass, bromus tectorum is also known as downy brome.
Beginning at the initial question do i have cheatgrass. Rangelandpasture recommendations cheatgrass identification. Feral horses equus ferus caballus have become overabundant in some areas of the west and can impact fragile semiarid ecosystems. We also assess how research and management influence these characteristics with a case study of treatment outcomes for bromus tectorum l. Interior columbia basin ecosystem management project. The key to controlling cheatgrass is to keep it from. Seedlings are bright green with conspicuously hairy leaves.
Downy brome resources national invasive species information. It may take a year to gather the information, but it will be well worth it in the long run. Cheatgrass, bulbous bluegrass, and foxtail barley management strategies in tame pastures roger hybner usdanrcs bridger plant materials center bridger, mt. Cheatgrass is an invasive plant common to the southwestern. It is widely distributed throughout the united states and has been reported to be the dominant species on more than 100 million acres of the intermountain west. Ars scientists in nevada, studied ways to control cheatgrass and restore rangelands to a healthy mix of plants, which in turn reduces wildfire. These midsummer fires are tough on native forbs and grasses. Disturbing the soil by disking, tilling, excess grazing, mowing, off road vehicles, heavy grazing all favor cheatgrass establishment. Bromus tectorum weed research and information center. Publications uw extension college of agriculture and natural. Pdf cheatgrass management, noxious weed management find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Downy brome national invasive species information center usda. We focus on managing cheatgrass in rangelands and natural areas but not in cultivated croplands. The keys to cheatgrass spread are its short life cycle and prolific seed production.
It is not well adapted to saline or sodic soil conditions or soils that are too wet. New research to combat a wily invasive weed issue may 2012 cheatgrass and its cousin, red brome, are exotic annual grasses that have invaded and altered ecosystem dynamics in more than 41 million acres of desert shrublands between the rockies and the cascadesierra chain. Commonly referred to as cheatgrass, bromus tectorum it is also known as downy brome, downy cheat and bronco grass. Cheatgrass prefers well drained soils of any soil texture. The handbook covers topics such as grazing, mowing, scrub management, grassland creation, weed control and management for specific species assemblages. Managing an invasive annual grass in the rocky mountain. On small pastures, supplemental feeding is almost always necessary. Resources for invasive species management in colorado cheatgrass management. Cheatgrass is an annual or winter annual grass that can range in height from 4 to 30 inches tall.
Best management practices for cheatgrass from colorado state parks. Additionally, range and pasture lands are often rich sources of native species biodiversity. Targeted livestock grazing to suppress invasive annual grasses 10 key points by jeffrey c. Management choice of actions to take for cheatgrass control primarily depends on the management goals and objectives for.
Mosley and lovina roselle jeff mosleyis a professor of range science and the extension range management specialist in the department of animal and range sciences at. In colorado, cheatgrass is listed as a noxious weed. For smallscale control, refer to the weed management handbook on the university of wyoming. Attacking invasive cheatgrass at its root cool green science. Grazing will probably not get rid of it completely, but may make it easier to control. Land and livestock managers need to know about issues that run the gamut from invasive plants, to wildlife biology, to public lands policy. Cheatgrass then dries out by late spring or early summer and provides fuel for wildfires that clear established native plants nearby, making room for more cheatgrass to seed. United states, id, bureau of land management jarbidge resource area. Jay norton, soils specialist university of wyoming land reclamation basics for energy development in northeastern wyoming.
Many of the principles discussed here also apply to other invasive weeds in natural systems, and we. Originally from the mediterranean region, it is widely distributed throughout the united states and has been reported to be the dominant species on more than 100 million acres of the intermountain west. Managing an invasive annual grass in the rocky mountain region for more information. Sep 07, 2016 cheatgrass then dries out by late spring or early summer and provides fuel for wildfires that clear established native plants nearby, making room for more cheatgrass to seed. Chemical there are many products on the market listed for control of cheatgrass whether in a crop situation or noncrop areas. As such, counties possess legal authority for regulation and management of this plant. Many of the principles discussed here also apply to other invasive weeds in natural systems, and we encourage readers to incorporate the strategic management framework into other weed management programs. It is important to have everything in place and ready to go before project managers arrive in order to convey that time is of the essence in project management. Mosley and lovina roselle jeff mosleyis a professor of range science and the extension range management specialist in the department of animal and range sciences at montana state university, bozeman, mt. This means that grazing management to reduce cheatgrass as a fuel for wild. Bureau of land management, idaho state office, boise, idaho.
Cheatgrass challenge idaho nrcs planning and program guidance. Although individual projects have been accomplished. Im convinced it will work as long as the bacteria are applied in the fall to the soil so they can colonize emerging cheatgrass roots in the spring, says michael gregg, a land management research and demonstration biologist at the midcolumbia river refuges complex in washington state. The information provided in this handbook is not intended to be a complete guide to herbicide use. Provided by smithsonian institution, department of botany. Cheatgrass, bulbous bluegrass, and foxtail barley management. Cheatgrass is an important contributor to the destructive fires nevada has experienced over the past decade. Native plants, unable to compete and unable to withstand frequent fire, soon give way to cheatgrass monocultures. This handbook is not designed to be a comprehensive compilation of all literature related to cheatgrass, but rather a guide to assist land. Because cheatgrass stands dry out by midjune, fires are more likely to occur earlier in the season.
Because chemical regulation of plant growth is complex and requires considerable knowledge, a large portion of the handbook is devoted to. The strategy was developed collaboratively by federal, state. During the wet years in the early 1980s, the cheatgrass on some allotments in box. Cheatgrass seeds drop prior to fires and will germinate with fall precipitation. The change in regime makes it harder for native grasslands to recover, making them even more susceptible to cheatgrass invasion. This wheatcolored, shortstatured, winter annual grass is a problem weed in all 50 states, as well as many mexican states and all 10 canadian provinces. In this handbook, we present information that should assist in developing a strategic approach to managing this invasive annual grass. Jan 26, 2012 cheatgrass, bulbous bluegrass, and foxtail barley management strategies in tame pastures roger hybner usdanrcs bridger plant materials center bridger, mt. Percent values refer to the estimated composition of cheatgrass by weight in the plant community the national science and technology center mapped about 31. Cheatgrass or downy brome is one of the most widespread and problematic invasive weeds in the western united states affecting wildlife habitat, livestock production and ecosystem processes. Cheatgrass identification and management background. Pasture and rangeland weed management pastures and rangelands provide a significant component of the forage base for domestic grazing animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and horses and many species of wildlife throughout montana, utah, and wyoming. Thatch accumulation or shallow burial favors establishment of germinating seeds.
The cheatgrass challenge is a proactive strategy developed to halt the transition of sagebrush steppe plant communities to annual grasslands. This applies across the board in grazing management practices, from reduced stocking. Cheatgrass can be found at almost any elevation, but it does particularly well at elevations ranging from 500 6,000 feet. Managing an invasive annual grass in the rocky mountain region aug 20. Publications uw extension college of agriculture and. Forests, rangelands, and aquatic ecosystems throughout colorado are some of the most diverse and spectacular in the nation. Bromus tectorum, known as drooping brome or cheatgrass, is a winter annual grass native to europe, southwestern asia, and northern africa, but has become invasive in many other areas.
The rocky mountain cheatgrass management project cthicynthia ci icini brown cynthia. Since cheatgrass management is a longterm process, a small trial area may be something a producer should do before potentially investing thousands of dollars in a herbicide treatment. Downy brome national invasive species information center. Extension resources range from range, pasture and natural area weed identification and management to conservation guidelines. Previous versions of this weed management handbook have included information on range and. Advice on the management of upland unenclosed grasslands can be found in the upland management handbook and for management advice on coastal and floodplain grazing marsh and lowland wet grasslands. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern united states and.
Stems are erect, slender, and glabrous or slightly hairy. The lack of dependability of cheatgrass as a forage spe cies is one of the arguments that we as land managers use when telling permittees that managing for cheatgrass isnt a good management goal. Lowland grassland management handbook second edition. Where found widely scattered throughout stevens co and washington. Strategic cheatgrass management in wyominglandscape. Removal, grazing, or chemical treatment prior to any seed development are recommended controls.
This series of steps describes an iterative process to strategically manage cheatgrass in pastures, wildlands, and rangelands. Cheatgrass management handbook managing an invasive annual grass in the rocky mountain region. Cheatgrass, bromus tectorum is also known as downy brome. A species profile for downy brome, bronco grass, downy chess, drooping brome, june grass, early chess, military chess, cheatgrass from usda, national invasive species information center. Pdf cheatgrass management handbook managing an invasive. Amid ongoing efforts to control cheatgrass in the great basin, we conducted a study to determine if feral horses. Cheatgrass management handbook published jointly by uw and csu extension. Long term management once established, cheatgrass can be very persistent, the integration of cultural methods of good prairie management along with herbicide controls and reseeding can be successful management tools. Cheatgrass, also referred to as downy brome, is a member of the poaceae or grass family. It now is present in most of europe, southern russia, japan, south africa, australia, new zealand, iceland, greenland, north america and asia. Management choice of actions to take for cheatgrass control primarily depends on the management goals and objectives for the site.
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