ARS | Publication request: Crested Wheatgrass Impedes the Spread of Medusahead

Submitted to: Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2009
Publication Date: June 1, 2009
Citation: Davies, K.W., Nafus, A., Sheley, R.L. 2009. Crested Wheatgrass Impedes the Spread of Medusahead.p. 39-43. In: Range Field Day 2009: Progress Report. Oregon State University Special Report 1092.. Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center.

Interpretive Summary: Establishing crested wheatgrass around the edge of medusahead infestations slowed the spread of the infestations into surrounding noninfested native plant communities. Crested wheatgrass decreased the availability of soil resources to medusahead and probably physically intercepted some of the dispersing medusahead seeds. Both the areas where crested wheatgrass was established and the areas protected by the crested wheatgrass had less medusahead than the control treatments.

Technical Abstract: Establishing crested wheatgrass around the edge of medusahead infestations slowed the spread of the infestations into surrounding noninfested native plant communities. Crested wheatgrass decreased the availability of soil resources to medusahead and probably physically intercepted some of the dispersing medusahead seeds. Both the areas where crested wheatgrass was established and the areas protected by the crested wheatgrass had less medusahead than the control treatments.