'IMMIGRANT' FORAGE KOCHIA COMPETITION WITH HALOGETON FOLLOWING VARIOUS SEEDING TECHNIQUES

Transcription

1 'IMMIGRANT' FORAGE KOCHIA COMPETITION WITH HALOGETON FOLLOWING VARIOUS SEEDING TECHNIQUES Richard Stevens E. Durant McArthur ABSTRACT 'Immigrant' forage kochia (Kochia prostrata) competition with halogeton (Halogeton glomerata) was evaluated in two experiments. In one, forage kochia was seeded into a community dominated by halogeton employing five different seedbed preparation techniques. Late fall seeding was superior to spring seeding. Significantly more forage kochia plants established when the soil was disturbed at seeding. As numbers of forage kochia plants and cover value increased, number of halogeton plants and cover decreased. Seven years following seeding, halogeton has essentially been replaced. Four other perennials and five annuals also contribute to the community makeup. In the second experiment, halogeton and forage kochia seedling emergence, development, and competition were observed 5 and 6 years_ after establishing forage kochia in a salt desert shrub community supporting high numbers of halogeton plants. Seedlings of both species emerge in early March. After emergence, forage kochia continues to grow, but halogeton remains in the two-leaf stage. By the time (mid-may) halogeton resumes growth, forage. kochia plants have an apparent competitive advantage. INTRODUCTION Forage kochia (Kochia prostrata) (fig. 1) is a low perennial chenopod shrub that has been seeded on range and pasture lands in Eurasia at least since 1932 (Larin 1976). It has been tested in the Western United States for over 20 years and shows promise of becoming an important forage producer and soil stabilizer on arid game and livestock ranges (Stevens and others 1985). Some important characteristics exhibited by this shrub are: fairly high salt and drought tolerance (Balyan 1972; Francois 1976; Larin 1956; Moghaddam 1976, 1978), extensive root system (Larin 1956; Prinianishnikov 1976), adaptability to cool and hot climates (Balyan 1972), low oxalate levels (Britton and Sneva 1977; Davis 1979; Paper presented at the Symposium on Cheatgrass Invasion, Shrub Die Off, and Other Aspects of Shrub Biology and Management, Las Vegas, NV, April 5-7, Richard Stevens is Research Biologist and Project Leader, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Great Basin Research Station, Ephraim, UT E. Durant McArthur is Principal Research Geneticist and Project Leader, Intermountain Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, UT Williams 1977), absence of poisonous attributes (Williams 1979), rapid and high seed production (Mogahaddam 1978; Prikhod'ko and Prikhod'ko 1977; Plummer and others 1970), and natural spread, especially on disturbed sites (McArthur and others 1974). Additional characteristics observed are high degree of germination (Allen and others 1986; Weller and others 1979; Young and others 1981), rapid loss of seed viability if not stored with less than 7 percent moisture and in cool conditions (Jorgensen and Davis 1983), long life (USDA 1961), winter semievergreenness, high protein content in all seasons (Britton and Sneva 1977; Davis 1979; Davis and Welch 1983), palatability of selected accessions to livestock, big game, and rabbits (Balyan 1972; Davis and Welch 1983; Nemati 1977; Otsyina and others 1983; Stevens and VanEpps 1983), use by upland game birds as food and cover, host to insects (Moore and others 1982), and compatibility with other perennials and competition toward annuals. A superior selection, 'Immigrant,' was released to the commercial market for seed production in 1985 (Stevens and others 1985). 'Immigrant' forage kochia has demonstrated its ability to compete well with other species in areas where adapted. When seeded into established grass, forb, and shrub communities, 'Immigrant' has demonstrated the unique ability to fill in interspaces between established perennials and not compete with them. Forage kochia has been successfully seeded into Wyoming big (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis), basin big (A tridentata ssp. tridentata), and black (A nova) sagebrush, pinyon (Pinus edulis)-juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia), black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) (fig. 2), fourwing saltbush (A canescens), and perennial grass communities (Stevens and others 1985). Halogeton (Halogeton glomerata) is an exotic poisonous annual that has been in the Western United States since about 1930 (Dayton 1951; Frischknecht 1967). This annual is widely adapted to the salt desert shrub and sagebrush grass communities. Within these communities it is especially adapted to disturbed areas including burns, overgrazed ranges, dry lake beds, abandoned farms, and areas oflow-vigor native plant cover. Seeds germinate in early spring (Cook and Stoddard 1953); however, growth does not take place until midsummer when summer storm moisture is utilized (Eckert 1954; ARS 1968). Abundant seed (up to 2,000 lb/acre) is produced most years; seed can lay dormant in the soil for up to 10 years (E~kert 1954). 175 This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Errors identified by the software have been corrected; however, some errors may remain.

2 Figure 1-Forage kochia, growing with one winterfat. Figure 2-Forage kochia growing with black greasewood. Halogeton is poisonous to sheep and cattle (ARS 1968). Animal losses are less where forage from other species is available and eaten in combination with halogeton. It has been observed that forage kochia will invade into a number of annual communities such as halogeton, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and bur buttercup (Ranunculus testiculatus) (McArthur and others 1974; Stevens and VanEpps 1984). However, it has not been determined if or how forage kochia can be seeded directly into stands of halogeton. Previous work (Stevens and others 1985) has shown that forage kochia established better from surface and near-surface seeding than from deeper seedings. This study was established to determine the feasibility of seeding forage kochia directly into halogeton and to determine the effectiveness of various seeding techniques on seedling establishment. METHODS AND STUDY SITES Two studies were conducted. In the first, forage kochia seeding trials were conducted in a halogeton community along a highway (US 89) construction corridor 5 miles (8 km) north of Salina, UT, at an elevation of 1,569 m (5,150 ft), with average annual precipitation of25 em (10 inches). The site was formerly a shadscale area. Approximately 4 m (12ft) of top and subsoil had been 176

3 removed from the site, exposing a cobbley clay conglomerate. Halogeton invaded the site the year following disturbance; by the third year (1981) the area was completely dominated by halogeton (440 plants per m 2, 1 to 7 em [2 to 8 inches] tall). 'Immigrant' forage kochia seed (1981 seed with 85 percent purity and 51 percent germination) was broadcast seeded December 8, 1981, and March 11, 1982, into the halogeton stand. Within 10 days following the December 8 seeding, snow fell. The storm was preceded by considerable wind. Seed was hand broadcast evenly over two 7.5-m 2 plots at 8.2lblacre for each of the following seedbed preparation treatments: (1) control, no soil disturbance and no seed; (2) broadcasting seed onto undisturbed soil; (3) disturbing the soil and broadcasting seed onto it; (4) disturbing the soil, broadcasting the seed, followed by additional soil disturbances; and (5) broadcasting seed and then disturbing the soil. Soil disturbance consisted of dragging a straight-toothed harrow over the plot once. This treatment broke off or uprooted most halogeton plants and disturbed the soil to a depth of approximately 2.5 em (1 inch). At the time of treatment, halogeton plants were mature and seed was shattering. Considerable amounts of halogeton seed in the disturbed plots were observed to be covered with soil. Soil at the time of seeding was crusted and dry. Very few forage kochia seedlings from the March 1982 seeding emerged and established. Therefore, these plots were not evaluated. Within each December 8 plot, four 1-m 2 (1.1-yd 2 ) subplots were randomly located and marked. Because of the large number ofhalogeton and forage kochia seedlings the first year, four microplots, 1 1s-m 2 (1.09-ft 2 ), were randomly placed within each 1-m 2 (1.1-yd 2 ) subplot. Forage kochia and halogeton seedlings were counted within each microplot June 24, On August 22, 1985, and August 29, 1988, forage kochia and halogeton plants were counted and percent live plant cover of each species was estimated within each 1-m 2 (1.1-yd 2 ) subplot. Data were analyzed with SAS analysis of variance procedures (SAS 1988). In the second study, forage kochia and halogeton seedling emergence and development were observed at a site 5 miles (8 km) west of Ephraim, UT, in a black greasewood, shadscale-halogeton area. 'Immigrant' forage kochia had been established from transplants 5 years earlier (1979). Seedling emergence and development of forage kochia and halogeton were recorded every 7 to 14 days between February 15 and May 15 for 2 years (1984, 1985). Periodic observations were made throughout summer months. Individual seedlings of each species not competing with each other were randomly identified and followed throughout the observation periods. STUDY ONE RESULTS In the seedling year (1982), number of forage kochia plants per m 2 among all treatments was not significantly different (table 1), including the control where kochia was not seeded, but seedlings were present. With considerable wind occurring following seeding, it is assumed that some forage kochia seeds that were not covered blew onto the control plots. By 1985, there was a significant difference in number of forage kochia plants with the least (21m 2 ) in the control; next highest densities were in the plots seeded on top of the undisturbed soil (191m 2 ), followed by all the disturbed soil seeded plots ( x = 361m 2 ). By 1988 (table 1) the control and seeding on undisturbed soil plots had significantly fewer plants (x =161m 2 ) than the seeded plots that had soil disturbance (x = 781m 2 ). The disturbed plots still had roughened soil surfaces, even through The control and undisturbed plots had rather smooth, crusted surfaces. Seed of forage kochia was produced every year. Forage kochia seed is wind dispersed and will collect in depressions, like those in the disturbed plots. The first year following seeding, halogeton numbers were similar among all treatments with an average of 4371m 2 (table 2). Four years following seeding there was an average of 54 halogeton plants per m 2 in the seeded plots and significantly more (i = 173) in the control. After 7 years seeded plots averaged four halogeton plants per m 2 and the control plot 17 plants per m 2 Table 1-Number of forage kochia plants (m 2 ) in five seedbed preparation treatments. Seeded DecemberS, 19S1, into a halogeton community Year Treatment Control 1 2SA 28 Seeded 2 11A 19A8 Disturbed 3 -seeded 2 40A 3SA Distu rbed 3 -seeded 2 -disturbed 3 27A 2SA Seeded 2 -disturbe& 23A 41A Average all treatments SSA 66A S1A 53A 1 Numbers in each column (except average} followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P< 0.05}. 2Sroadcast, 8.21blacre. 3Qnce over with straight-toothed harrow. "Numbers in row followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P< 0.05}. Table 2-Number of halogeton plants (m 2 ) in areas seeded with forage kochia with five seedbed preparation treatments. Forage kochia was seeded into halogeton community December S, 19S1 Year Treatment Control 1 43SA 173A 17A Seeded 2 469A 558 SA Disturbed 3 -seeded 2 361A 608 SA Disturbed 3 -seeded 2 -disturbed 3 442A 458 OA Seeded 2 -disturbe& 474A 558 OA Average all treatments 4 437A C 1 Numbers in each column (except average} followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P< 0.05}. 2Sroadcast, 8.21b/acre. 3Qnce over with straight-toothed harrow. "Numbers in row followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P< 0.05}. 177

4 Percent cover of forage kochia and halogeton also changed with the time (table 3). In 1985, 3 years following seeding, there was significantly less forage kochia cover (1.3 percent) in the control plot than there was in all the seeded plots combined (x = 23.4 percent). By 1986 (fig. 3), little change had occurred with 2.6 percent in the control and 24.1 percent in the seeded plots. Halogeton cover 3 years following seeding was greatest (17.4 percent) where forage kochia was not directly seeded and significantly less ( x = 7.4 percent) in all the seeded plots. Halogeton cover decreased to 10 percent in the control and 0.4 percent in the seeded plots by This corresponds to similar losses in numbers of halogeton plants and increases in number of forage kochia plants (tables 1 and 2). A... ~_,._ 8 Figure 3-Halogeton-dominated study area (A) prior to seeding (1981) forage kochia and same area (B), seven growing seasons later (1988) being dominated by forage kochia. 178

5 Table 3-Percent live cover of forage kochia and halogeton where forage kochia had been seeded with five seedbed preparation treatments into a halogeton community December 9, 1981 Forage kochla Halogeton Treatment Control A 10.1A Seeded A8 11.9C Disturbed 3 -seeded A Disturbed 3 -seeded 2 -disturbed A Seeded 2 -disturbe& 28.8A 37.4A Control A 10.0A All seeded treatments, average A 24.1A Numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different at (P < 0.05) in each column. Numbers below the double line constitute a separate comparison. 2Sroadcast, 8.2 lb/acre. 30nce over with straight-toothed harrow. Table 4-Seedling emergence and development of halogeton and forage kochia over 2 years in a shadscale-black greasewood-halogeton community west of Ephraim, UT Date Forage kochla March 12 to 16 Seedlings emerge (as early as Feb. 28) April 11 to 13 4-to-6-leaf stage April20 to 24 6-to-8-leaf stage May 1 to 7 12-to-14-leaf stage May 10 to to-18-leaf stage 2.5 em (1 inch) tall STUDY TWO RESULTS Halogeton Seedlings emerge 2-leaf stage 2-leaf stage 2-leaf stage 4-to-8-leaf stage 1.3 em ( 1 /2 inch) tall Most seedlings of both forage kochia and halogeton emerged as soon as the snow melted (late February to early March). A few seedlings, however, were present when the snow melted, indicating germination and emergence under snow. Night-time frosts continued through May 20. Frost did not appear to have detrimental effects on seedlings of either species. When forage kochia emerged it kept growing (table 4), while seedlings of halogeton remained in the two-leaf stage until mid-may. By the time (May 10) halogeton began to grpw again and produce additional leaves, forage kochia seedlings were well developed, twice as tall as the halogeton, and had three to five times more leaves. Seedlings of both forage kochia and halogeton did not grow much from early June to the onset of summer storms (mid July to September), when both species once again put on growth. CONCLUSIONS Poisonous annual halogeton has invaded hundreds of thousands of acres in the Intermountain West. Livestock losses from halogeton poisoning can be reduced if other forage species are available on rangeland. Forage kochia can be successfully seeded into stands of weedy annuals like halogeton with good success. Forage kochia does best when seeded onto a disturbed soil surface. Because forage kochia and halogeton have early germination and emergence characteristics, fall seedings are preferred. Forage kochia, a perennial with superior early spring-growing seedlings, has the ability to dominate the summer-growing annual halogeton. Forage kochia can become the dominant species in a halogeton community, resulting in increased-quality, year-long forage production, increased permanent ground cover, and reduced animal poisoning potential. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Research was facilitated by Federal Funds for Wildlife Restoration, Pittman-Robertson Project W-82-R study 5, and the Intermountain Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. REFERENCES Allen, P. S.; Meyers, S. E.; Wilson, G. R.; Davis, J. N.; Stevens, R.; Jorgensen, K. R Addition of Kochia prostrata-forage kochia to the rules. Association of Official Seed Analysts Newsletter. 60(1): Balyan, G. A Prostrate summer cypress and its culture in Kirghizia. Franze, USSR: Isdatel stvo "Kyrgyzstan." 296 p. [Translated 1979, U.S. Department of Commerce, RR ] Britton, C. M.; Sneva, F. A Production and chemical attributes of Kochia prostrata. In: Abstracts of papers, 30th annual meeting, Society for Range Management; 1977 February 14-17; Portland, OR. Denver, CO: Society for Range Management. 12 p. Cook, W. C.; Stoddard, L.A The halogeton problem in Utah. Bull Logan, UT: Utah State Agricultural College, Agricultural Experiment Station. 44 p. Davis, A. M Forage quality of prostrate kochia compared with three common browse species. Agronomy Journal. 71: Davis, J. N.; Welch, B. L Seasonal variation in crude protein content of Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad. In: Proceedings, symposium on the biology of Atriplex andrelated chenopods; 1983 May 2-6; Provo, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-172. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: Dayton, W. A Historical sketch of "Barilla" (Halogeton glomeratus). Journal of Range Management. 4: Eckert, R. E., Jr A study of competition between whitesage and halogeton in Nevada. Journal of Range Management. 7: Francois, L. E Salt tolerance of prostrate summer cypress (Kochia prostrata). Agronomy Journal. 68: Frischknecht, N. C How far will halogeton spread? Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 22(4): 3-7. Jorgensen, K. R.; Davis, J. N A technique for retaining seed viability in Kochia prostrata seed. In: Proceedings, symposium on the biology of Atriplex and related 179

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