ARS | Publication request: CONTROL OF MEDUSAHEAD WITH IMAZAPIC AND PRESCRIBED BURNING IN THE NORTHERN GREAT BASIN

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 22, 2007
Publication Date: January 26, 2008
Citation: Davies, K.W., Sheley, R.L. 2008. Control of medusahead with imazapic and prescribed burning in the northern great basin. Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts. Range & Pasture Management Poster# 18.

Technical Abstract: Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski) is an invasive, exotic annual grass that is reducing the productivity and biodiversity of rangelands. Efforts to control medusahead on rangeland in the northern Great Basin are rarely successful. We evaluated the effectiveness of six treatments on controlling medusahead. Treatments were spring burning, fall burning, spring burning with imazapic application (Plateau® 5 oz/acre), fall burning with imazapic application, imazapic application, and no treatment. Six sites dominated by a near monoculture of medusahead were selected to evaluate treatment effects. Imazapic application and burning with imazapic application reduced medusahead more than other treatments in the first year post-treatment. However, these imazapic application treatments appear to reduce the density and cover of native forbs more than other treatments. Our preliminary data suggest that applying imazapic is more successful than either spring or fall burns at controlling medusahead, but that imazapic has a more negative effect on native forbs than prescribed burning. Long-term evaluation of treatments is needed to determine the long-term control of medusahead and re-establishment of desirable vegetation.