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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Reno, Nevada » Great Basin Rangelands Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #429236
Research Project: System-based Management and Rehabilitation of Rangelands

Location: Great Basin Rangelands Research

Title: Effective weed control significantly increases soil moisture for Great Basin Rangeland restoration efforts

Author
item Phillips, Jacob
item Harmon, Daniel
item Clements, Darin

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/8/2025
Publication Date: 2/10/2026
Citation: Phillips, J.D., Harmon, D.N., Clements, D.D. 2026. Effective weed control significantly increases soil moisture for Great Basin Rangeland restoration efforts. Meeting Abstract. 79:15.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Excessive amounts of weeds, such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), can inhibit restoration efforts by consuming available resources making it harder to restore desirable species across the arid Great Basin. Effective weed control helps reduce the competition for these available resources, such as soil moisture, allowing for restoration efforts and promoting a healthier ecosystem. The use of pre-emergent herbicides is an effective form of weed control. Two pre-emergent herbicides, imazapic and SFM75, are effective in controlling weeds to allow for an increase in soil moisture particularly in the months of May and June when seedlings are growing but moisture can be limited. We hypothesized that the reduction of competitive weeds provides more soil moisture which would be available for desirable seedlings after seeding efforts. Soil samples were collected during the growing season (March through June) from herbicide plots (imazapic and SFM75) and control plots (no herbicide) one year after application at three field locations (Bedell, Izzenhood, and TS Ranch) across the Great Basin in Nevada. The data reflects a large increase in soil moisture percentage (%) for the months of May and June for an SFM75 herbicide plot at Bedell (4.06% for May, 4.40% for June) and Izzenhood (6.90% for May, 4.81% for June) in comparison to the controls (Bedell – 1.02% for May, 1.74% for June; Izzenhood – 2.37% and 1.69%). Similar results were seen from TS Ranch with an increase in soil moisture on herbicide plots in comparison to control plots. Imazapic herbicide plots saw the same trend in results as SFM75 herbicide plots. The reduction in weeds using herbicide results in an increase in soil moisture which is available for desirable plants and can facilitate restoration efforts.