Proceedings brand creation for a prescribed fire culture – utilizing key social media parameters. Lars Coleman*1, J. Kelly Hoffman1, Thomas McDaniel1, R. Patrick Bixler2, Urs P. Kreuter1, Morgan Russell3

Rangeland managers are increasingly prioritizing ecological functions of soil. Soil organic carbon is central to these efforts because it plays a fundamental role in soil fertility, soil stabilization, and water holding capacity. On grazing lands, influencing soil organic carbon via vegetation management is one strategy through which managers may be able to affect change.  For example, promoting deep-rooted perennial grasses is hypothesized to increase soil carbon. However, dynamics between soil organic carbon and the vegetation community are complex, and there is a need to understand broad patterns in soil organic carbon concentrations in relation to plant community composition. In 2016, we surveyed the herbaceous plant community and soil organic carbon at 220 locations in 15 counties in California. Using multiple regression on distance matrices, we found a significant relationship between vegetation community composition and percent soil organic carbon while controlling for geographic location, average annual precipitation, and soil texture. Using indicator species analysis, we found that plant species associated with high soil carbon included several functional groups, including perennial grasses, and plant species associated with low soil carbon were primarily annual forbs. This survey of plant community composition and soil organic carbon provides context for setting management objectives and generating mechanistic hypotheses about plant-soil interactions.

ASPEN CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN AN OREGON BUNCHGRASS ECOSYSTEM. Andrew D. Neary*¹, Ricardo Mata-Gonzalez¹, Heidi Schmalz²; ¹Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, ²The Nature Conservancy, Enterprise, OR

Quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides, has experienced severe declines in recent years in part due to the effects of changing climate and drought. As the dominant deciduous tree in Western North American, aspen plays a critical role in biodiversity and ecosystem function. Therefore, the persistence of this species under changing climate patterns is a topic of critical concern. While previous research has investigated the effects of drought on aspen decline, few studies have sought to integrate this approach with physiological indicators to characterize aspen resiliency under specific site conditions. This presentation will detail the initial findings of a study of aspen communities on a pacific northwest bunchgrass prairie in northeastern Oregon. Here, aspen stands are found in topographical niches associated with late season snow patches and provide key ecosystem function to this rangeland ecosystem. Field measurements of soil moisture, physical soil characteristics and drought stress were collected over the course of the 2017 growing season and will be analyzed to assess the climate resiliency of aspen stands across the study site. Additionally, using historical spatial imagery to detect changes in late-season snow cover, the project seeks to assess the relationship between snow cover and seasonal soil moisture availability. Ultimately, these modeled relationships will be used to predict which individual sites have the greatest potential for sustaining aspen. By underscoring the importance of aspen communities in rangeland systems and the threats to these systems by climate change, this project seeks to used applied ecological science to help land managers strategically direct conservation efforts in a grassland system.

EVIDENCE FOR THE OCCURRENCE OF BIOCRUSTS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN AND MOJAVE ECOREGIONS

Although biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are known to occur globally in arid and semi-arid environments, the question arises as to if they occur in the Great Basin ecoregion. Most studies looking at these organisms in the Great Basin occur on the edges of region, with minimal work being done within the state of Nevada, the geographic core of the Great Basin. For this reason, we assess the presence of biocrusts in both the Great Basin and Mojave Desert ecoregions, addressing the unstudied area of Nevada in its entirety. We mapped the presence and absence of mosses and lichens across both regions using Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Strategy data (AIM) from 3655 plots. AIM data is collected by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to provide consistent data on core quantitative indicators of rangeland health on BLM lands, including basal ground cover provided by lichens and mosses. The observed occurrences of both organisms were mapped by Major Land Resource Area (MLRAs). Preliminary results show that mosses were observed on a greater proportion of plots within the more northern to easterly MLRAs: the Malheur High Plateau, Owyhee High Plateau, Snake River Plains and Great Salt Lake. Lichens were observed on a greater proportion of plots within the more centrally located MLRAs: the Central Nevada Basin and Range, Fallon-Lovelock and Humbolt Areas. The Mojave Desert and Southern Nevada Basin and Range MLRAs had the greatest proportion of plots without mosses or lichens. Globally, work on ecosystem function and recovery from disturbance incorporates the presence of biological soil crusts. Given our demonstration of the presence of biological soil crusts across the Great Basin and Mojave ecoregions, we hope to call attention to the need to include them in studies on ecosystem function, recovery from disturbance and restoration in these regions.

COMMON GARDEN COMPARISONS OF REPRODUCTIVE, FORAGE AND WEED SUPPRESSION POTENTIAL OF RANGELAND REHABILITATION GRASSES OF THE GREAT BASIN. Dan N. Harmon*¹, Charlie D. Clements²; ¹USDA-ARS, Reno, NV, ²USDA, Reno, NV

Common garden experiments are a means to remove environmental effects. Using 8 species of perennial rangeland grasses, we established a common garden (3 reps x28 plants =84 plants/species ). We found that ‘Hycrest’ crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) produced the greatest amount of seed (6,117 and 4,4155/ plant) compared to other species such as Squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) (2,172/plant).  Monthly, we randomly harvested one plant/rep to estimate biomass. We compared only the 5 mid-sized grasses excluding the large basin wild rye (Leymus cinereus), the small Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) and the root creeping wild rye (Leymus triticoides).  June biomass of crested wheatgrass was significantly larger than all other grasses except bluebunch wheatgrass which was similar. Comparing soil moisture we found only crested wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and Basin wildrye consistently depleted soil moisture significantly from control plots (bare soil) (e.g. June soil 4-15cm depth; crested wheatgrass = 3.7%, Thurbers needlegrass (Achnatherum thurberianum) (= 8.95%% and control = 10.9%). Results on available soil nitrogen uptake were similar to soil moisture. The suppression of weeds like cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) by perennial grasses is thought to occur by the perennial grass competing for and limiting available soil moisture and nitrogen to the annual cheatgrass. These results emphasize the importance of considering the potential of a species to achieve specific goals such as cheatgrass suppression and strengthen the concept of the introduced grass, crested wheatgrass, being an ecological equivalent, and functionally very similar to the native bluebunch wheatgrass.  

THE EFFECT OF CATTLE DIGESTION AND RUMINATION ON SERICEA LESPEDEZA SEED GERMINATION. Nolan Craun*, Eric Duell, Cooper Sherrill, Catherine Haviland, Ryan Reuter, Laura Goodman; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a non-native legume invading rangelands in the southern Great Plains.  Herbicides offer short-term control with long-term negative effects on native forbs.  Increasing cattle consumption by burning and mowing has been proposed to suppress plant growth but little is known about the effect of digestion on sericea seeds.  Our objective was to identify the effect of cattle digestion on sericea lespedeza seed germination.  Sericea seeds were subjected to one of the following treatments: 1) passage through the complete digestive tract by feeding 500 g of seeds with 1.8 kg of dried distillers grains to 4 steers; 2) digestion in only the rumen by placing in-situ bags containing 100 g of seed in 4 cannulated steers; or 3) no digestion.  At 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 hours post feeding, fecal samples were collected from each steer and sieved for seeds.  Following surface sterilization, seeds were placed on germination paper in a growth chamber with germinated seeds counted on day 3, 7, 14, and 21.  Analysis of variance was used to model germination percentage as a function of exposure type and seed condition.  Full digestion and rumination increased germination (P < 0.002, P < 0.05; respectively) by 17% and 12% over the 4% germination rate of the control seeds.   The number of seeds in fecal collections declined over time (P < 0.01) and as time in the digestive tract increased, percentage of seeds with an intact endocarp decreased (P < 0.04). Hulled seeds germinated at a 15% greater rate than seeds with intact endocarps (P < 0.05).  We recommend grazing sericea-infested pastures prior to flowering and penning cattle that have been grazing sericea-infested pastures for 4 to 5 days before grazing a sericea-free pasture. 

INTEGRATION OF PATCH-BURN GRAZING AND HERBICIDES TO CONTROL LESPEDEZA CUNEATA IN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE. Valerie K. Cook*¹, Karen R. Hickman¹, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf¹, Bob Hamilton², D. Chad Cummings³; ¹Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, ²The Nature Conservancy, Pawhuska, OK, ³Dow AgroSciences, Perry, OK

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is an invasive legume rapidly establishing and spreading throughout the tallgrass prairie landscape. Allelopathic polyphenols in sericea displace native plants, alter soil chemistry and microbial communities, and reduce forage availability, but traditional sericea control efforts have been independently ineffective: fire promotes germination, grazing pressure is limited by condensed tannin levels, and herbicides provide only short-term control. We suggest the integration of mechanical, biological, and chemical management tools increases the efficacy of sericea management efforts, while improving ecosystem function and minimizing collateral impacts to the native plant community. We sought to determine the environmental and management factors most influential on sericea control. We established 21, 14, and 12 permanent transects in 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively, within recently burned patches at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve of Oklahoma. Within 16, 1-m2 quadrats along each transect, we quantified initial sericea density, percent canopy cover, and stems grazed. Following seasonal fire and [steer] grazing, one fourth of each transect received a spot-spray treatment of early- or mid-season triclopyr, late-season metsulfuron-methyl, or no treatment.   Using ANOVA and multiple regression, we analyzed sericea control as the proportion of initial stem density each growing season after treatment (GSAT). One GSAT, densities were 0.42, 0.46, 0.80, and 1.86 times the initial density for early-, mid-, late-season spray, and control treatments.  Two GSAT, densities were 0.71, 0.55, 1.39, and 2.86 times the initial density for respective treatments. At 2 GSAT, we found spray timing, pasture burn treatment, initial density, and fire return interval (FRI) were best predictors of sericea control. Preliminary results indicated greatest control was attained with a 3-yr FRI receiving both spring and summer burns and mid-season treatments of triclopyr. Final results and management implications from the comprehensive dataset will be presented.

BATTLING THE SECOND GREEN GLACIER: AN ANALYSIS OF SERICEA LESPEDEZA (LESPEDEZA CUNEATA) MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. Cooper W. Sherrill*, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Laura Goodman; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK

ABSTRACT

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata [Dum.-Cours] G. Don) is invading rangelands of the southern Great Plains and is believed to have negative impacts on livestock production and biodiversity.  Historically, research efforts have focused largely on testing the efficacy of selective herbicides and more recently, the use of prescribed fire to alter grazing patterns on sericea lespedeza (patch burning). We present research on a unique long-term data set on landscapes where patch-burn grazing [Bison (Bison bison) and cattle (Bos spp.)] and herbicides have been variably applied. The research was conducted at The Nature Conservancy’s Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (Pawhuska, Oklahoma) and at Oklahoma State University’s Range Research Station (Stillwater, Oklahoma). At the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, we re-sampled 151 of the 10x10m vegetation monitoring plot that where established in 1999, with a special focus on a select group of forbs because of their importance to biodiversity. At Oklahoma State’s Range Research Station, the (3) .80 x .80 km patch burn pastures along with the (3) .80 x .80 km traditionally managed pastures (spring fire every third year) where sampled to determine sericea lespedeza invasion over the past 20 years and the effects the treatments have had on the native plant community. Analyzed data from the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve suggests that the long-term use of patch-burn grazing and herbicide application have variable effects on the invasion of sericea lespedeza as well as the maintenance of native plant biodiversity. At Oklahoma State’s Range Research Station, the patch-burn pastures have a significantly lower canopy cover of sericea lespedeza when compared to that of the traditionally managed pastures, suggesting that the patch-burn treatment is more effective at slowing the invasion rate of sericea lespedeza.

NATAL GRASS [MELINIS REPENS (WILLD.) ZIZKA] IN CHIHUHUA, MEXICO; AN ANALYSIS OF ITS DISTRIBUTION AS WELL AS MORPHOLOGICAL AND NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERIZATION. Raul Corrales¹, Carlos Morales¹, Alan Alvarez², Federico Villarreal*¹; ¹Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, ²Student, Chihuahua, Mexico

Plant descriptors contribute to the identification of a species with characteristics expressed according to variables of topography, climate, and geology, among others. Some grasses are naturally differentiated or have been modified and selected by specific characters that differ physically or chemically. Intraspecific differences expressed lead to a plant species being reclassified into varieties. Natal grass is an introduced species that became invasive. In America it is one of the most invasive grasses due to its establishment capacity. This species has the capacity to invade and displace native species of high ecological importance. The variability of this species is unknown, since it has a relatively short time of being naturalized in Mexico. The objective was to know the distribution and characterize wild populations of Natal grass through physical and chemical descriptors, to determine their morphological diversity and nutritional composition in Chihuahua, México. The characterization was performed on 13 populations in mature phenological stage. The location of the populations collected were in the north, center, south and west of the State. A total of 20 quantitative morphological variables and 16 qualitative variables were measured on 65 individuals. The nutritional value was determined based on the fiber content with the Ankom protocol, based on the Van Soest method. In addition, crude protein (CP) was determined with the LECO protocol based on the DUMAS combustion method. Morphological data were analyzed through Correlation Analysis, Principal Components, Cluster and MANOVA. Structural fibers and CP were analyzed with ANOVA and comparison of means with the Tukey test. The morphological characteristics of Natal grass were determined. No diversity was found in the Rosado grass populations of the State of Chihuahua. Nutritional content was determined and difference (p <0.05) of CP was found among populations. Based on the nutritional contribution, the forage value for this species was estimated from regular to good.

EFFECTS OF FULL AND HALF-RATE OF SELECTED HERBICIDES TO LEAFY SPURGE INVADED RANGELANDS FOLLOWING A SPRING APPLIED FIRE. Tracy Ellig*¹, Kevin Sedivec¹, Dennis Whitted², Ryan Limb¹, Kent Belland³; ¹North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, ²North Dakota State University, Walcott, ND, ³North Dakota Army National Guard, Bismarck, ND

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) is a costly noxious weed to manage and control. Leafy spurge invades rangelands and displaces native and desirable vegetation. The most common type of management for leafy spurge control is the use of herbicides. Herbicides can be costly, especially if applying to large areas. Our over-arching objective was to test the recommended full rate and half rate of selected herbicides applied in September following a spring burn on leafy spurge and its associated plant community. Specific study objectives were to 1) determine if a late spring burn followed by fall applied herbicide treatments will have a greater effect on controlling leafy spurge density using a half and full rate compared to unburned plots, and 2) determine if a late spring burn followed by fall applied herbicide treatments will impact the existing plant communities compared to unburned plots. We selected three herbicide treatments and treated the two study blocks (replicates) with the recommended rate and half the recommended rate following a spring burn. Quinclorac, aminocyclopyrachlor + chlorsulfuron, and picloram + imazapic + 2, 4-D were the three herbicide treatments using a nested randomized block design with a between factor (burning) and a within factor (herbicide and rate combination). The study was conducted on the Gilbert C. Grafton Military Training Base (South Unit) near McHenry, ND. Plant composition was determined by collecting graminoid species presence/absence using 0.1m2 every 2 m, and density of leafy spurge and other broad leaf forbs using a 0.25m2 plot every 2 m along a 20 m transect. Data is currently being analyzed.

EFFECT OF WEEDY GRASSES ON STOCKING RATE AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION GRAZING CA ANNUAL GRASSLAND

Much of California’s annual rangeland has become infested with weedy grasses.  These weeds adversely affect the rangeland forage quality.   This paper considers yearling stocking rates and performance to determine the influence weedy grasses have.  For three years, replicated experimental pastures received light disking, a glyphosate and annual Transline treatment and were seeded with Gulf annual ryegrass at 20 lbs/acre.   Cattle were weighed and introduced to the plots in March and removed in late May.  Grazing metrics include cattle gain and AUM /acre harvest. Forage biomass, species and quality data were collected.  Costs were calculated and economics considered in the analysis.  

GRAZING BY FREE-ROAMING HORSES REDUCES BUFFELGRASS (PENNISETUM CILIARE) DISTRIBUTION

Prediction of invasive species requires delineation of the fundamental niche and has included development of Habitat Suitability Models. Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare, synonym Cenchrus ciliaris) is a non-native invasive perennial in the arid southwest. Perennial grasses such as buffelgrass can have their geographic distribution constrained by repeated grazing. Grazing can play an important part in integrated weed management programs as a biological control. Free-roaming horses overlap buffelgrass populations in specific areas. In these areas, what is the effect of horses in the control of buffelgrass? The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of horse grazing on buffelgrass. We asked the question: what is the fundamental niche of buffelgrass in the lower Sonoran Desert of Mesa, Arizona? And do horses constrain the potential habitat of buffelgrass, creating a realized niche of less geographic area? We performed an observational study to answer these two questions. Data collection was performed between November 20-30, 2016. Chi-square analyses were used to test the assumptions that buffelgrass has a fundamental niche along the study highway and that horse grazing creates a niche contraction that hinders further buffelgrass expansion. The study showed that buffelgrass is significantly less frequent in areas grazed by horses than in areas ungrazed by horses. The result suggests that horses may be an effective tool against the expansion of buffelgrass populations into areas susceptible to its establishment. Further study is recommended.

TUMBLEWEED CONTROL ON CALIFORNIA&RSQUO;S CENTRAL COAST. Devii R. Rao*¹, Elise Gornish², Richard Smith³, Josh S. Davy⁴; ¹UC Cooperative Extension, Hollister, CA, ²University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Tucson, AZ, ³Univeristy of California Cooperative Extension, Salinas, CA, ⁴University of California, Red Bluff, CA

Tumbleweed (Salsola sp.) was introduced to the United States, initially in South Dakota, from Russia in the 1870s.  It was first observed in California in 1895.  This plant is widespread across the western United States and is of concern to livestock producers because it can grow in dense stands, outcompeting plants that provide better forage for livestock.  Because limited research has been conducted on tumbleweed control in rangelands, we deployed an experiment to test whether cattle grazing, herbicide, or seeding would control tumbleweed.  Nine replicates were installed across two ranches in San Benito County, California.  Each replicate includes a grazed section and an ungrazed section.  Treatments for both sections were: 1) no herbicide, no seeding, 2) no herbicide, native seeding, 3) no herbicide, forage seeding, 4) herbicide, no seeding, 5) herbicide, native seeding, 6) herbicide, forage seeding.  Plots on Ranch A were grazed by stocker cattle from September 2015 to May 2016 and September 2016 to June 2017.  Stocker cattle grazed plots on Ranch B from December 2015 to June 2016 and November 2016 to June 2017.  The herbicide treatment was applied in spring 2016.  Seeding was conducted in fall of 2016.  Elymus glaucus (Blue wildrye), Bromus carinatus (California brome grass), and Poa secunda (Pine bluegrass) were seeded into the native seeding subplots.  Forage subplots were seeded with Festuca arundinacea (flecha fescue).  Initial observations suggest that strong grass growth during the spring of 2017 had a limiting effect on tumbleweed; seeded species were able to germinate and grow; tumbleweed cover was less in grazed subplot compared to ungrazed subplots, and less in the herbicide subplots compared to subplots not treated with herbicide.  Overall, cover of tumbleweed was lowest in subplots that received both the grazing and herbicide treatments.

TIMING OF HUISACHE (ACACIA FARNESIANA) CONTROL IN SOUTH TEXAS
. Pablo Teveni*, Robert D. Cox, Ronald Sosebee; Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX