Authors - Kim Goodwin, Project Specialist Roger Sheley, Associate Professor Janet Clark, Director, Center for Invasive Plant Management DepartmentEditor - James E. Knight, Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Montana State University

Rangeland Weed Management

Burn severity and the survival of desired plants Burn intensity

Temperature Duration

Burn severity Moisture

Noxious weed cover and survival

Expect some degree of noxious weed survival

Rhizomes – vegetative root buds

Noxious weed cover and survival, cont. Assess need for revegetation Monitor

Re-vegetate, Establish, & Manage Competitive Plants When to revegetate

Vegetation canopy is inadequate

Under 20 to 30%

When revegetation is necessary

Recommend for high-severity burns Moderate to high quantity weeds High nutrient, exposed ground, low

shade/high light Inadequate vegetation cover

Formulating a seed mix

Aggressive, quick-establishing mix Certified weed free Dependent upon:

UseTimelineCompetitiveness

Soil Precipitation Temperature Elevation

Intended Use of the Area?

Livestock grazing – perennial grass

No grazing – native species Compete w/ noxious

weeds Nitrogen-fixing

legumes

Competitiveness & Establishment

Diverse, aggressive, quick-establishing species

Generally, native species are slower and more difficult to establish

Soils

Soil Texture Sandy Clay Loam (45% sand, 35% silt, 20% clay)

pH (6.5 to 7.5) Soluable salts (optimum = 0-8 mmhos/cm) Sodium absorption ratio (optium is <6) Organic matter (optimum is >3%)

Other things to consider

Precipitation Temperature Elevation

Seedbeds & Seeding Methods

No seedbed preparationProtective layer of ashWet/dry, freeze/thaw action

Seedbed preparation Double/triple broadcast rate No-till drill

Enhancing the establishment of seeded species Species adapted to site No ash – site prep. Adding nitrogen-fixing

legumes Increasing seed rates Protective mulch cover Remove noxious weeds Defer grazing

Devising a Grazing Program

Encourage desired plant growth

Multi-species grazing

Devising a Grazing Program, cont.

Defer until seedlings are established

Avoid heavy grazing – stocking rates

Alter season of use Rotate livestock Minimize bare ground Monitor

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