Plasticity in native perennial grass populations: Implications for restoration

The species composition of temperate grasslands in the mid-north of South Australia has been radically altered from a system dominated by native perennial grasses to a system dominated by Mediterranean annual grasses. This study investigated the importance of chemical and physical soil characteristics, topographical features and climatic variables on the abundance of native and exotic grass species in nine ungrazed grasslands. Overall, climatic and other abiotic factors were highly variable. In addition, past management practices and original species composition are generally unknown, leading to further unexplained variation in the data. On a large spatial scale (among sites), the abundance of exotic annual grasses was positively correlated with mean annual rainfall, and on any scale, with finer soil textures and higher soil organic carbon levels. The most abundant annual grass, Avena barbata (Pott ex Link), was generally associated with soil factors denoting higher soil fertility. The abundance of native perennial grass species was not correlated with any environmental variables at any scale. The various native perennial grass species did not show clear associations with soil factors, although they tended to be associated with factors denoting lower soil fertility. However, at small spatial scales (within some sites) and among sites, the abundances of exotic annual and native perennial grasses were strongly negatively correlated. The results suggest that at the present time, rainfall and soil properties are important variables determining the abundance of annual grasses. The driving variables for the abundance of perennial grasses are less clear. They may be controlled by other factors or extreme rainfall events, which were not surveyed. In addition, they are likely to be controlled by competitive interactions with the annual grasses.

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Integrated Management of Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)

Invasive Plant Science and Management ◽

10.1614/ipsm-07-004.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 17-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rob G. Wilson ◽

Debra Boelk ◽

Guy B. Kyser ◽

Joseph M. DiTomaso

Keyword(s):

Integrated Management ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Site Preparation ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Flower Bud ◽

No Till ◽

Wide Range ◽

Grass Establishment ◽

Native Perennial Grass

AbstractPerennial pepperweed is invasive throughout California. It thrives in a wide range of environments and is a common weed in floodplains, pastures, wetlands, and roadsides. In disturbed areas, perennial pepperweed rapidly forms monotypic stands with a thick litter layer. These infestations not only out-compete other vegetation, but prevent re-establishment of desirable species even after perennial pepperweed control. This experiment examined integrated management strategies with the goal of maximizing perennial pepperweed control and establishment of desirable native vegetation. The experiment was conducted at two sites in Lassen County, CA. Both sites were heavily infested with perennial pepperweed and lacked competing vegetation. The experimental design was a split-split-randomized block with four replications. Site preparation treatments included winter burning, summer and fall mowing, winter grazing, and fall disking. These treatments were designed to remove thatch to facilitate herbicide application and reseeding of desirable perennial grasses. Herbicide treatments included chlorsulfuron, 2,4-D, or glyphosate applied at the flower bud stage. Revegetation treatments included no seeding and no-till seeding of native perennial grasses. Most site preparation plus herbicide combinations reduced perennial pepperweed cover > 85% compared to the untreated control, although treatment efficacy was variable between sites and years. Burning, grazing, mowing, or disking in combination with herbicide treatment and no-till seeding was necessary for successful native perennial grass establishment. Burning or mowing with yearly 2,4-D applications for 3 yr gave the best combination of perennial pepperweed control and native grass establishment. Chlorsulfuron caused chlorosis and stunting to western wheatgrass, basin wildrye, and beardless wildrye at both sites when applied the spring before seeding. No treatment offered complete weed control, suggesting follow-up spot herbicide applications are needed for long-term perennial pepperweed suppression. These results provide several successful integrated strategies for control of perennial pepperweed and revegetation to a desired native perennial grass community.

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Direct Effects of Soil Amendments on Field Emergence and Growth of the Invasive Annual Grass Bromus tectorum L. and the Native Perennial Grass Hilaria jamesii (Torr.) Benth

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/s11104-005-8551-8 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 280 (1-2) ◽

pp. 29-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Beth A. Newingham ◽

Jayne Belnap

Keyword(s):

Bromus Tectorum ◽

Soil Amendments ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Direct Effects ◽

Annual Grass ◽

Field Emergence ◽

Native Perennial Grass

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Response of a Native Perennial Grass Stand to Disturbance in California's Coast Range Grassland

Restoration Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1061-2971.2004.00355.x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 279-289 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

James W. Bartolome ◽

Jeffrey S. Fehmi ◽

Randall D. Jackson ◽

Barbara Allen-Diaz

Keyword(s):

Perennial Grass ◽

Coast Range ◽

Grass Stand ◽

Native Perennial Grass

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Grassland Response to Herbicides and Seeding of Native Grasses 6 Years Posttreatment

Invasive Plant Science and Management ◽

10.1614/ipsm-d-11-00050.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 311-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Bryan A. Endress ◽

Catherine G. Parks ◽

Bridgett J. Naylor ◽

Steven R. Radosevich ◽

Mark Porter

Keyword(s):

Invasive Plant ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Grassland Restoration ◽

Exotic Grasses ◽

Exotic Invasive ◽

Successful Establishment ◽

Exotic Invasive Plants ◽

Exotic Grass ◽

Native Perennial Grass

AbstractHerbicides are the primary method used to control exotic, invasive plants. This study evaluated restoration efforts applied to grasslands dominated by an invasive plant, sulfur cinquefoil, 6 yr after treatments. Of the five herbicides we evaluated, picloram continued to provide the best control of sulfur cinquefoil over 6 yr. We found the timing of picloram applications to be important to the native forb community. Plots with picloram applied in the fall had greater native forb cover. However, without the addition of native perennial grass seeds, the sites became dominated by exotic grasses. Seeding resulted in a 20% decrease in exotic grass cover. Successful establishment of native perennial grasses was not apparent until 6 yr after seeding. Our study found integrating herbicide application and the addition of native grass seed to be an effective grassland restoration strategy, at least in the case where livestock are excluded.

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