Publication Date
1993
Description
Since the 1940s the Bureau of Land Management has reseeded 485 830 ha of public rangelands in southern Idaho. Introduced wheatgrasses were seeded on most rehabilitation projects, often resulting in monoculture plant communities. Introduced wheatgrasses were relatively inexpensive to seed, established well, excluded weedy annuals and provided additional livestock forage. Concern about extensive shrubland losses after wildfires prompted BLM managers to begin reseeding native shrubs in the early 1980s. Use of different herbaceous plants on rehabilitation projects is increasing. Seed mixtures now include up to 10 species (grass, forb and shrubs) that, when established, meet multiple use resource objectives.
Citation
Pellant, Mike and Monsen, Stephen B., "Rehabilitation on Public Rangelands in Idaho, USA: A Change in Emphasis from Grass Monocultures" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 9.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session19/9
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Rehabilitation on Public Rangelands in Idaho, USA: A Change in Emphasis from Grass Monocultures
Since the 1940s the Bureau of Land Management has reseeded 485 830 ha of public rangelands in southern Idaho. Introduced wheatgrasses were seeded on most rehabilitation projects, often resulting in monoculture plant communities. Introduced wheatgrasses were relatively inexpensive to seed, established well, excluded weedy annuals and provided additional livestock forage. Concern about extensive shrubland losses after wildfires prompted BLM managers to begin reseeding native shrubs in the early 1980s. Use of different herbaceous plants on rehabilitation projects is increasing. Seed mixtures now include up to 10 species (grass, forb and shrubs) that, when established, meet multiple use resource objectives.
