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Research Project: RANGELAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT

Location: Range and Meadow Forage Management Research

Title: Interim medusahead management guide for the intermountain west

Authors
item Davies, Kirk
item Nafus, Aleta
item Johnson, Dustin -

Submitted to: Natural Resources Conservation Service Western States Area Workshop
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: April 27, 2011
Publication Date: April 26, 2011
Repository URL: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/eoarc/sites/default/files/abouthome/scientists/documents/691.pdf
Citation: Davies, K.W., Nafus, A., Johnson, D.D. 2011. Interim medusahead management guide for the intermountain west. Natural Resources Conservation Service Western States Area Workshop. p 1-15.

Interpretive Summary: Medusahead is an exotic annual grass that is decreasing livestock forage production, increasing wildfire frequency, and reducing biodiversity in sagebrush rangelands. The spread of medusahead should be reduced by treating infestations along roads, increasing or maintaining high perennial bunchgrass abundance, and monitoring for and eradicating small populations. The best control of medusahead is achieved with prescribed burning followed by a fall application of a pre-emergent herbicide. Seeding crested wheatgrass and squirreltail one year after application of a pre-emergent herbicide has been successfully used to revegetate medusahead-invaded sagebrush plant communities. Additional research is needed to determine if native plants can be established and effectively resist re-invasion after medusahead control.

Technical Abstract: Medusahead is an exotic annual grass that is decreasing livestock forage production, increasing wildfire frequency, and reducing biodiversity in sagebrush rangelands. The spread of medusahead should be reduced by treating infestations along roads, increasing or maintaining high perennial bunchgrass abundance, and monitoring for and eradicating small populations. The best control of medusahead is achieved with prescribed burning followed by a fall application of a pre-emergent herbicide. Seeding crested wheatgrass and squirreltail one year after application of a pre-emergent herbicide has been successfully used to revegetate medusahead-invaded sagebrush plant communities. Additional research is needed to determine if native plants can be established and effectively resist re-invasion after medusahead control.

   

 
Project Team
Boyd, Chad
Svejcar, Anthony - Tony
Davies, Kirk
Madsen, Matthew - Matt
Bates, Jonathan - Jon
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Pasture, Forage and Rangeland Systems (215)
  Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/24/2013
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