Perennial Grass Establishment in Relationship to Seeding Dates in the Northern Great Plains

R. E. Ries; L. Hofmann

doi:10.2307/4002290

Perennial Grass Establishment in Relationship to Seeding Dates in the Northern Great Plains

Journal of Range Management ◽

10.2307/4002290 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 504 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

R. E. Ries ◽

L. Hofmann

Keyword(s):

Great Plains ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Northern Great Plains ◽

Grass Establishment

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Effects of Ventenata dubia removal on rangelands of northeast Wyoming

Invasive Plant Science and Management ◽

10.1017/inp.2021.20 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-26

Author(s):

Marshall Hart ◽

Brian A. Mealor

Keyword(s):

Great Basin ◽

Great Plains ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Northern Great Plains ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Western Us ◽

Annual Grasses ◽

One Year

Abstract Ventenata dubia (Leers) Coss is one of several annual grass invaders of the western US. Ventenata dubia is documented reducing the forage availability for livestock and wildlife as well as lowering biodiversity in the Great Basin. This species has recently spread to the Great Plains, where it could bring these impacts with it. We attempt to answer questions on whether or not conservation practices, in this case removal of V. dubia with herbicide, results in recovery of forage resources and biodiversity. We answer these questions by measuring biomass, cover, and nutrient content one year post treatment at eleven sites in Sheridan County, Wyoming, conducted in two years. Perennial grasses have higher crude protein and total digestible nutrients than V. dubia and removal of V. dubia resulted in a positive perennial grass response both years. Further, the differences in pattern of growth between perennial and annual species, with annual grasses quickly senescing early in the year, make perennial grasses a more dependable forage base with higher available nutrients. Interestingly, total biomass and nutrient mass did not change after V. dubia removal due to equal replacement with perennial grasses. Species richness and diversity were unaffected by removal of V. dubia. Our results suggest that managing invasive annual grasses, particularly V. dubia, in the northern Great Plains can improve forage resources for livestock and wildlife while maintaining species diversity. Therefore, proactive monitoring and management efforts to prevent spread should be prioritized in this region.

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