Rangeland revegetation: A closer look

Authors: Clements, Darin; Harmon, Daniel

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/8/2025
Publication Date: 2/10/2026
Citation: Clements, D.D., Harmon, D.N. 2026. Rangeland revegetation: A closer look. Meeting Abstract. 79:1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: It is commonly reported that rangeland seedings experience very poor results, less than 10% is often reported. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit has a long history dating back to the 1950’s in invasive weed control and revegetation of arid environments throughout the Great Basin. Pioneer research scientists Raymond Evans, Richard Eckert and James Young laid the foundation for range improvement practices to successfully seed desirable perennial species in arid environments as well as a better understanding of the role exotic and invasive annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, play in out-competing perennial species at the seedling stage and truncating secondary succession by providing an early maturing, fine-textured fuel that has increased the chance, rate, spread and season of wildfire throughout the Great Basin and Intermountain West. Other pioneer researchers, such as A. C. Hull and Joe Pechanec, pointed out in the late 1940s the importance of establishing perennial grasses to reduce cheatgrass invasions. Pioneer researchers passed on their learning experiences to the next generation of researchers such as the importance of effective and efficient weed control to reduce invasive weed competition to improve seeding successes in arid environments. We went through our records for the last 37 years pertaining to revegetation experiments and demonstrations plots throughout northeastern California and northern Nevada to take a closer look at what our experience has been with success and failures over the nearly four decades. From 1988 through 2024, we have seeded more than 1,000 plots at approximately 47 study sites, with the vast majority of sites averaging less than 10” of annual precipitation. Our goal over the years has been to reduce exotic and invasive weeds, increase desirable perennial vegetation and improve the sustainability of grazing and wildlife resources. Our approach was to learn from past researchers and practitioners of what worked and did not work for them and use current technologies and improved plant materials to meet our stated goals, primarily to reduce the negative impacts caused by cheatgrass invasion and return cheatgrass-infested rangelands back to a perennial vegetation state. Here we report on rangeland seeding research and demonstration plots of native and introduced perennial grasses and shrubs. Of the more than 1,000 plots and more than 40 study sites that we have seeded native species, we have recorded a 26% success seeding rate (e.g. > 4 perennial grasses per 10² feet) far greater than the less than 10% seeding success often reported. Our seeding success rate when using introduced species is 74% and when using a mix of native and introduced species we experienced a 44% seeding success. Over this 37-year span, we have experienced some level of success, 28 of those 37 years, 76%. Although the challenges that resource managers face when assigned the task of revegetating degraded Great Basin rangelands is a steep climb, the success from climbing that mountain is better than reported.