“Snowstorm’ Forage Kochia: A new species for rangeland rehabilitation

Authors: Clements, Darin - Charlie; Waldron, Blair; Jensen, Kevin; Harmon, Daniel - Dan; JEFFRESS, MATT - Nevada Department Of Wildlife

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2019
Publication Date: 3/18/2020
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6810789
Citation: Clements, D.D., Waldron, B.L., Jensen, K.B., Harmon, D.N., Jeffress, M. 2020. “Snowstorm’ Forage Kochia: A new species for rangeland rehabilitation. Rangelands. 42(1):17-21.

Interpretive Summary: Forage kochia, (Bassia prostrata) formerly (Kochia prostrata), native to the semi-arid regions of Eurasia has been referred to as “Russian alfalfa” as well as “alfalfa of the desert”. Forage kochia was first introduced to the United States in the early 1960s by researchers looking for plant materials that could biologically suppress exotic and noxious weeds, such Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Early on researchers recognized its’ nutritional quality, including 8-14% crude protein in the fall and early winter, therefore suggesting this species be used to improve winter forage for wildlife, especially mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). In 1984, the cultivar ‘Immigrant’ forage kochia (Bassia prostrata ssp. virescens) was released to aide in rangeland rehabilitation efforts. ‘Immigrant’ forage kochia can reach plant heights ranging 1-3’, competes with the exotic and invasive annual grass cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), stays green throughout the fire season and provides a nutritional forage on arid rangelands. Following nearly 10 years of testing of the Uzbek germplasm throughout the western United States, ‘Snowstorm’ forage kochia was released in 2012 by USDA-Agricultural Research Service and the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station as a rehabilitation species to improve forage production for livestock and wildlife in semi-arid saline environments. ‘Snowstorm’ forage kochia is similar to ‘Immigrant’ in its’ adaptation to the semi-arid environments, but ‘Snowstorm’ is more pubescent and grayish in color than ‘Immigrant’, which is green and turns reddish during seed maturity. ‘Snowstorm’ is more than 60% taller in stature, produces nearly 70% more forage, and has higher crude protein and digestibility than ‘Immigrant. ‘Snowstorm’ seed mass weight is also about 40% heavier than ‘Immigrant’ seed, but the two varieties have similar seedling establishment and vigor in the western U. S.. ‘Snowstorm’ forage kochia provides resource managers with an added tool to increase grazing resources and wildlife habitat by improving the nutritional quality of degraded rangelands year-around.

Technical Abstract: Forage kochia, (Bassia prostrata) formerly (Kochia prostrata), native to the semi-arid regions of Eurasia has been referred to as “Russian alfalfa” as well as “alfalfa of the desert”. Forage kochia was first introduced to the United States in the early 1960s by researchers looking for plant materials that could biologically suppress exotic and noxious weeds, such Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) was widely planted on big sagebrush sites throughout the Great Basin and successfully suppressed Halogeton and cheatgrass, however crested wheatgrass lacks the ability to persist on saline soils, therefore scientists proposed the use of forage kochia as a candidate species on these soils. Forage kochia is a perennial semi-shrub that has the inherent potential to germinate and establish on a variety of soils including, clay, sandy, and loamy as well as in climates that range from 5-27” of annual precipitation. Forage kochia persists under heavy grazing, as it evolved in heavily grazed arid environments, as well as the ability to resprout following wildfires. For centuries, forage kochia has been an important fall and winter forage for cattle, sheep, horses, camels and wildlife in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and surrounding regions. Early on researchers recognized its’ nutritional quality, including 8-14% crude protein in the fall and early winter, therefore suggesting this species be used to improve winter forage for wildlife, especially mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). In 1984, the cultivar ‘Immigrant’ forage kochia (Bassia prostrata ssp. virescens) was released to aide in rangeland rehabilitation efforts. ‘Immigrant’ forage kochia can reach plant heights ranging 1-3’, competes with the exotic and invasive annual grass cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), stays green throughout the fire season and provides a nutritional forage on arid rangelands. ‘Snowstorm’ forage kochia was released in 2012 by USDA-Agricultural Research Service and the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station as a rehabilitation species to improve forage production for livestock and wildlife in semi-arid saline environments. ‘Snowstorm’ forage kochia is similar to ‘Immigrant’ in its’ adaptation to the semi-arid environments, but ‘Snowstorm’ is more pubescent and grayish in color than ‘Immigrant’, which is green and turns reddish during seed maturity. ‘Snowstorm’ is more than 60% taller in stature, produces nearly 70% more forage, and has higher crude protein and digestibility than ‘Immigrant. As wildfire frequencies have increased, the ability to restore native perennial species back into these habitats has been extremely challenging and largely unsuccessful, in which many resource managers have given up on these degraded rangelands. However, the use of forage kochia in greenstrips and rehabilitation seedings to break up fuel continuity, especially on cheatgrass dominated rangelands, is well documented as a rangeland rehabilitation tool that not only reduces the rate and spread of wildfires, but also protects against further loss of browse communities. ‘Snowstorm’ forage kochia provides resource managers with an added tool to increase grazing resources and wildlife habitat by improving the nutritional quality of degraded rangelands year-around.