Why aren't native annual grasses which act as a nursery to native perennial grasses used. It seems like native annual grasses are a key component that are missing from many ecosystem though they were once common. The missing component may allow fast movers like cheat grass to take over. I know in CA they are starting to incorporate the ca native annual grass , festuca microstachys in native seed mixes used for reseeding after fires.
Another magic wand!!! So what kills healthy soil condition to allow perennial grass to not grow. Can proper grazing do the same with out another expensive chemical???
Over grazing is certainly one of the things that caused the problem but cheat grass was introduced in many places as a forage crop. Many of these cool season fast moving annual grasses are also allelopathic and put out chemicals into the soil to deter other species. Not sure if cheat grass does that, but the other way they take over is setting seed early, and lots of it and just take over with shear numbers
Why aren't native annual grasses which act as a nursery to native perennial grasses used. It seems like native annual grasses are a key component that are missing from many ecosystem though they were once common. The missing component may allow fast movers like cheat grass to take over. I know in CA they are starting to incorporate the ca native annual grass , festuca microstachys in native seed mixes used for reseeding after fires.
Another magic wand!!! So what kills healthy soil condition to allow perennial grass to not grow. Can proper grazing do the same with out another expensive chemical???
Over grazing is certainly one of the things that caused the problem but cheat grass was introduced in many places as a forage crop. Many of these cool season fast moving annual grasses are also allelopathic and put out chemicals into the soil to deter other species. Not sure if cheat grass does that, but the other way they take over is setting seed early, and lots of it and just take over with shear numbers
Great overview, Charlie!
Very well produced. Cheers, USDA
Very imprsssive results, what pre emerge product are you using?
I'd like to know too. Just curious, used to be into study of pesticides in general. Lived many years where Cheatgrass thrives.
This is perfect for my Environmental Anthropology students!