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Managing Cheatgrass in the Southwest

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Managing Cheatgrass in the Southwest United States Department of Agriculture Field Guide for Managing Cheatgrass in the Southwest Forest Southwestern Service Region TP-R3-16-04 September 2014 Cover Photos Top left: U.S. Forest Service Top right: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Bottom: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on recycled paper Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) Grass family (Poaceae), Bromeae tribe Cheatgrass is an invasive plant common to the southwestern • Fibrous root system continues to grow during winter United States. It is listed in New Mexico as a Class C thereby supporting greater penetration of the soil noxious weed species which allows management decisions profile by spring. Plants also send out lateral roots to to be determined at the local level based on feasibility of maximize access to soil moisture. control and level of infestation. • Reproduces only by seed. Each plant may produce between 25 and 5,000 seeds which typically mature This field guide serves as the U.S. Forest Service’s by middle to late June; seeds are awned and readily recommendations for management of cheatgrass in forests, attach to clothing and fur. Seed may remain dormant woodlands, rangelands, and deserts associated with its for 2 to 3 years in the soil, even at high temperatures. Southwestern Region. The Southwestern Region covers Arizona and New Mexico, which together have 11 national Ecology forests. The Region also includes four national grasslands Impacts/threats located in northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma, and the Texas panhandle. Cheatgrass is an aggressive invader of sagebrush, pinyon- juniper, ponderosa pine, mountain brush, and other rangeland and forest communities. Its ability to rapidly grow Description and reproduce before most native grasses makes it especially Cheatgrass (synonyms: downy brome, drooping brome, troublesome on range, croplands, and pastures. Cheatgrass June grass, bronco grass, early chess, military grass, thatch can alter the normal fire pattern in vegetated areas when its bromegrass, Mormon oats) is an introduced, early emerging populations become dense and dominant. After wildfire, annual grass native to southern Europe, northern Africa, cheatgrass thrives and can out-compete native herbaceous and southwestern Asia. First identified in the northeastern and shrubby seedlings such as antelope bitterbrush. The U.S. in 1861, it is now found throughout all 50 states and presence of cheatgrass with its awned seed can diminish is widely distributed across the western United States. As recreational opportunities, reduce available forage, degrade a seedling or young plant, cheatgrass is bright green with wildlife diversity and habitat, and decrease land values. hairy blades and a dense, drooping seed head. Maturing Location foliage and seed heads are purplish in color that later Cheatgrass grows in a variety of habitats and climate change to brown and tan colors when dried out. zones, generally preferring areas with 6 to 22 inches of Growth Characteristics precipitation. It grows in most soil types, although it prefers • Annual or winter annual (biennial); shade intolerant; relatively coarse-textured soils, and tends to avoid areas with seed germinates mostly in late fall or early spring. saline or compacted soil. It commonly invades disturbed areas such as recently burned areas, roadsides, cleared areas, • Slender seed stalks grow erect or are decumbent at railway and utility rights-of-way, overgrazed rangelands, base; 4 to 30 inches tall. cultivated fields, and vegetation management projects that • Slender, dense, 1-sided inflorescence with multiple involved soil disturbance. drooping spikelets. Each spikelet has 5 to 8 florets. Spread • Twisting leaf blades glabrous to hispid (covered with The hairy, sharply awned seeds of cheatgrass are transported stiff or rough hairs); soft, short hairs on leaf sheaths. by various mechanisms including wind, water, birds, small • Forms tillers with 1 to 2 tillers or as many as 20 rodents, etc. They adhere easily to clothing, fleece, and tillers per main root. animal fur. The seed is often a contaminant in grain, hay, and 1 straw. Seed carried on undercarriages of vehicles and road control methods will enhance the long-term success rate maintenance equipment is a major means of long distance for managing cheatgrass. Before initiating any treatment, transport. examine every proposed site closely to determine if native grasses will return naturally or if reseeding is necessary. If Invasive Features desirable native plants are common, they will often flourish Cheatgrass germinates early, and its roots grow rapidly once cheatgrass is removed, thereby allowing natural during winter which allows uptake of greater soil moisture restoration. Reseeding should particularly be considered if for rapid spring growth, early maturation, and increased native plants are nearly absent. drought tolerance. Its potential for high population densities and fine-textured fuels increases the likelihood for fire Table 1 summarizes management options for controlling ignition and spread. As a result, the greater frequency of cheatgrass under various situations. The selection of fires occurring in cheatgrass infested areas tends to favor individual control method(s) for cheatgrass depends on the overall cheatgrass dominance by removing reproduction of degree and density of infestation, current land use, and site competing native plants. conditions (accessibility, terrain, microclimate, other flora and fauna present, etc.). Other important considerations include treatment effectiveness, overall cost, and the number Management of years needed to achieve control. More than one control Choice of actions to take for cheatgrass control primarily method may be needed for a particular site. depends on the management goals and objectives for Physical Control the site. Control is particularly necessary when dense, competitive populations of cheatgrass block attainment Physical methods to control cheatgrass should focus on of goals and objectives for land management. When removing plants and reducing seed production. Most implementing cheatgrass management, an adaptive methods require proper timing and may need to be repeated approach should be followed that will allow adjustments to reach an acceptable level of control. Seed reserves of to be made as necessary. The following actions should be desirable native species sufficient to repopulate a site considered when planning the management approach: following cheatgrass suppression or removal can increase effectiveness of control methods. • Maintain healthy plant communities to prevent or limit cheatgrass infestations. Manual Methods Hand pulling, cutting, or digging – For small infestations • Limit disturbance and revegetate quickly with of cheatgrass, hand pulling or hoeing before seeds are desirable plants following a major disturbance. produced (approximately 1 week after flowering) will reduce • Detect, map, and eradicate new populations of seed but may not completely eliminate the infestation. cheatgrass as early as possible. Keep annual records Several consecutive years of hand removal may be required of reported infestations. to reduce seed bank reserves. When pulling, extract as much • Combine mechanical, cultural, biological, and of the root as possible. chemical methods for most effective control. Mechanical Methods • Encourage use of spray washing stations to reduce Tillage – Disking or other mechanical control methods seed spread when mechanized equipment is utilized alone may encourage further dominance, since disturbance inside or near an infestation. coupled with a well-aerated seedbed favors cheatgrass Prioritizing areas for treatment through a combination of establishment. When repeatedly done, disking or tillage 2 Table 1. Management options* Site Physical Methods Cultural Methods Biological Methods Chemical Methods Roadsides, Mow or grade before Implement sanitary requirements for If practical, late fall and Use truck spraying fence lines, seed production. Repeat vehicle operations and reporting of early spring grazing with equipment. Wash and noncrop every 2 to 3 weeks or until infestations along roads. livestock will reduce underneath vehicle areas flowering is complete. seed production and afterward to prevent Avoid excessive disturbance. Consider decrease risk of wildfire; spread. reseeding with desirable native however, heavy grazing perennials after cheatgrass control. may promote infestation. Rangeland, Use tillage with disc Use certified weed-free seed and hay. Late fall and early spring Use ground broadcast
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