Description
Annual grasses challenge our ability to meet forage production and plant community conservation objectives. Direct competition, potential mutualism, and shortened fire return interval interplay resulting in complexity of how to meet challenges we face. Bromus tectorum presents challenges to sagebrush dominated plant communities with shortened fire return intervals and the advancing invasion of Ventenata dubia poses threats to forage production through competitive interactions that may involve mutualism to enhance V. dubia’s invasion of annual and perennial grass dominated plant communities. Use of fuel breaks can reduce the extent of fires and their proper function hinges on their reduced plant biomass in contrast to surrounding vegetation to improve fire fighting ability. Reducing annual grass biomass within fuel breaks reduces fuel continuity and shortens the duration of dry vegetation. Indaziflam and imazapic are two herbicide active ingredients that allow control of annual grasses within fuel breaks and sagebrush plant communities. Aerial application of these herbicides allows us to match control actions to the scope of the problem. These herbicides can also reduce competition from annual grasses, allowing increased cover and diversity of native plant communities. Removal or reduction of annual grasses has improved plant species diversity and forage production.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.13023/geew-3x55
Citation
Prather, T.; Jones, L.; Strand, E.; Harrison, G.; and Johnston, K., "Answering Complex Questions as We Make Headway on Annual Grasses and Fire" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 50.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/XXV_IGC_2023/Sustainability/50
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Answering Complex Questions as We Make Headway on Annual Grasses and Fire
Annual grasses challenge our ability to meet forage production and plant community conservation objectives. Direct competition, potential mutualism, and shortened fire return interval interplay resulting in complexity of how to meet challenges we face. Bromus tectorum presents challenges to sagebrush dominated plant communities with shortened fire return intervals and the advancing invasion of Ventenata dubia poses threats to forage production through competitive interactions that may involve mutualism to enhance V. dubia’s invasion of annual and perennial grass dominated plant communities. Use of fuel breaks can reduce the extent of fires and their proper function hinges on their reduced plant biomass in contrast to surrounding vegetation to improve fire fighting ability. Reducing annual grass biomass within fuel breaks reduces fuel continuity and shortens the duration of dry vegetation. Indaziflam and imazapic are two herbicide active ingredients that allow control of annual grasses within fuel breaks and sagebrush plant communities. Aerial application of these herbicides allows us to match control actions to the scope of the problem. These herbicides can also reduce competition from annual grasses, allowing increased cover and diversity of native plant communities. Removal or reduction of annual grasses has improved plant species diversity and forage production.
