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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #170712
Title: COMPETITION OF INVASIVE WEEDS AS AFFECTED BY SOIL MICROORGANISMS IN NATIVE SHRUB-STEPPE ECOSYSTEMS.

Author
item Venable, ROBERT - Northwest Ag Products
item Kennedy, Ann
item STUBBS, TAMI - WASH. STATE UNIVERSITY
item Newsome, HEIDI - US Fish and Wildlife

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2004
Publication Date: 11/1/2004
Citation: Venable, R. E., Kennedy, A. C., Stubbs, T. L. Newsome, H. 2004. Competition of invasive weeds as affected by soil microorganisms in native shrub-steppe ecosystems. S03-venable4072. 2004. Annual Meeting Abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rhizobacteria can selectively suppress various plant species. Our research on these organisms has shown that their use has the potential to reduce tillage, agrochemical usage and related ground and surface water contamination in cropland. Rhizobacteria can be grown, formulated and field-applied using standard commercial technology. When applied to field soil, these naturally occurring bacteria selectively suppress the growth of seedling downy brome and jointed goatgrass growing in the presence of other plants. These organisms are effective at reducing weeds in rangeland ecosystems as well. Our objectives were to investigate the use of these rhizobacteria for weed management in rangeland systems. Preliminary rangeland results show an increase in plant biodiversity where downy brome was suppressed by application of rhizobacteria compared to untreated areas. Rhizobacteria treated areas exhibited significant increases in certain native perennial forb species when compared to untreated areas. The application of microorganisms that alter plant competition and succession has promise for selective management of plant species in various ecosystems. The use of bacteria as bioherbicides offers producers and land managers a conceptually new and ecologically sound approach for selective control of difficult weeds in crops and rangeland.