Microsite Requirements for Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum) Infestation and Control on Sagebrush Rangelands

Weed Science ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 13-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond A. Evans ◽  
James A. Young
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
And Control

The sagebrush (Artemisia)-grass ecosystem is an extensive and important rangeland type in the western United States. Estimates of total area of this ecosystem vary from 38 million ha (21, 22) to 109 million ha (3). Of the sagebrush-grass rangelands, 88% are degraded to the point that they are producing 50% or less of their forage potential (22). Low forage production on these rangelands has been caused by overgrazing and other past land abuses (24) resulting in severe depletion of native perennial grasses, dominance of brush, and, on millions of hectares, downy brome (Bromus tectorumL. # BROTE) dominance of the understory.

The Biology of Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum)

Weed Science ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald C. Thill ◽  
K. George Beck ◽  
Robert H. Callihan
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Triticum Aestivum ◽  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Perennial Grassland

Downy brome (Bromus tectorumL. # BROTE), also known as cheatgrass, downy chess, broncograss, Mormon oats, and junegrass, was introduced into the United States from Europe, apparently during the middle of the nineteenth century (11, 21). According to Mack (23), downy brome entered British Columbia, Washington, and Utah around 1890; and by 1928 it had reached its present range, occupying much of the perennial grassland in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and British Columbia. Today, downy brome is a widespread weed throughout most of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, except for the southeastern United States (5, 17). Some consider downy brome to be an important forage because it provides most of the early spring grazing for livestock in western United States rangeland (21). However, it is also considered a troublesome weed in rangeland (31), winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) (27), several other crops (29), and noncropland (32).

The History and Distribution of Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum) in North America

Weed Science ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 2-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry A. Morrow ◽  
Phillip W. Stahlman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
North America ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Great Basin ◽  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Agricultural Production Systems

Downy brome (Bromus tectorumL. # BROTE) has developed into a severe weed in several agricultural production systems throughout North America, particularly on rangeland and in winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.). Several million hectares of winter wheat, pastureland, alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.), grass seed fields, and overgrazed rangeland, as well as other crops, have been invaded by this annual grass since its introduction into this hemisphere. Downy brome is most abundant in the Great Basin and Columbia Basin areas of the western United States, but is found throughout the continental United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. In some cases, the vegetation on overgrazed rangeland consists totally of downy brome, while winter wheat growers in the western United States proclaim it as their worst weed problem. Changes in tillage practices that are currently being implemented for the control of soil erosion coupled with the lack of selective herbicides for the control of downy brome have aided its increase and spread.

Integrated Systems for Control and Management of Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum) in Cropland

Weed Science ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 26-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail A. Wicks
Keyword(s):  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Seed Quality ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Grass Seed ◽  
Small Grains ◽  
Control And Management ◽  
Perennial Legumes

Downy brome (Bromus tectorumL. # BROTE) may be a troublesome weed in winter small grains, perennial legumes, perennial grasses grown for seed, and orchards. In Nebraska, winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) yields have been depressed 30% by downy brome populations of 11 to 22 plants/m2(8). In Oregon, downy brome densities of 108 to 160 and 538 plants/m2reduced yields by 40 and 92%, respectively (22, 23). In Idaho, wheat yields were depressed 20 to 40% with 55 to 110 plants/m2(18). Downy brome has also been shown to lower yields and quality of hay from infested fields of alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) (29). In perennial grass seed fields, downy brome may cause a serious seed quality problem (16). Some grass seed lots have contained as much as 50 to 75% downy brome seed.

THE BIOLOGY OF CANADIAN WEEDS.: 75. Bromus tectorum L.

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 689-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAHESH K. UPADHYAYA ◽  
DOUGLAS McILVRIDE ◽  
ROY TURKINGTON
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
North America ◽  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Weed Biology ◽  
Intensive Research ◽  
Extensive Documentation ◽  
Competitive Success ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
And Control

Bromus tectorum L. (downy brome), introduced to North America from Europe before 1861, has spread throughout most of the continent. It is present in all Canadian provinces except Newfoundland and is particularly abundant in southwestern Alberta and southern British Columbia. The ubiquitous nature of B. tectorum and its dual role as a serious weed and an important forage have resulted in extensive documentation on various aspects of its biology. Intensive research efforts have been expended in understanding its competitive success, and in implementing management and control practices. This paper reviews and summarizes literature on the biology of B. tectorum.Key words: Bromus tectorum, downy brome, cheatgrass, weed biology

Control of Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) and other Annual Grasses with Imazapic

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy B. Kyser ◽  
Joseph M. Ditomaso ◽  
Morgan P. Doran ◽  
Steve B. Orloff ◽  
Robert G. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Significant Suppression ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Lake County ◽  
Annual Grasses

Invasive annual grasses, such as medusahead, can reduce forage production capacity and interfere with revegetation projects in California rangelands. Because of the taxonomic similarity to other more desirable grasses, achieving selective control of invasive annual grasses can be difficult. In selectivity trials conducted in Yolo and Siskiyou counties, CA, the herbicide imazapic gave control of many nonnative annual grasses yet provided some level of selectivity to specific perennial grasses used in revegetation projects throughout the western United States. The selectivity difference between newly seeded perennial and annual grasses was greater with PRE applications than with POST treatments. Both perennial and annual grasses within the tribe Hordeae were more tolerant to imazapic than other grass species. In addition, field experiments were conducted at three sites in northern California (Yuba, Yolo, and Lassen counties) and one in southern Oregon (Lake County) to test the response of imazapic to varying management conditions. Imazapic was applied PRE in fall (and also spring in Lake County) at rates from 35 to 210 g/ha on undisturbed rangeland, in comparison with rangeland cleared of standing plant material and thatch by either tillage, mowing and raking, or burning. Imazapic generally showed enhanced weed control when applied following disturbance. Rates as low as 70 g/ha, if combined with thatch removal, provided significant suppression of medusahead. In addition, disturbance alone generally reduced medusahead cover in the following year. Although imazapic showed potential for control of medusahead and other annual grasses, its selectivity window was relatively narrow.

PRODUCTIVITY AND PERSISTENCE OF DECLINING ALFALFA STANDS AS INFLUENCED BY THE ALFALFA WEEVIL, WEEDS, AND EARLY FIRST HARVEST IN OKLAHOMA

1992 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Latheef ◽  
R.C. Berberet ◽  
J.F. Stritzke ◽  
J.L. Caddel ◽  
R.W. McNew
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Full Bloom ◽  
Insecticide Treatment ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Hypera Postica ◽  
Percentage Composition

AbstractImportance of cultivars, harvest schedules, and pest infestations as determinants of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., productivity and stand persistence was investigated using the unimproved “OK08” (Oklahoma Common) and the multiple-pest resistant “WL 318” cultivars. Beginning in the 5th year of production, treatments including three first-harvest schedules (early bud, early bloom, and full bloom) were imposed in a factorial arrangement with unsprayed subplots and three pesticide options for control of alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), or weeds such as downy brome, Bromus tectorum L., or both. In addition to estimating population levels of alfalfa weevil and percentage composition of weeds in forage during each year, alfalfa dry matter yield and stem densities (no. per square metre) were determined during the 3-year period from 1986 through 1988. The seasonal forage production (2-year mean) of WL 318 was nearly 5.4 Mg per hectare greater than that of OK08. There was no consistent trend for greater seasonal alfalfa yield with any of the first-harvest schedules. Timely application of pesticides, as well as use of the improved cultivar were essential for maintaining productivity in years 5 through 7 of stand life. At the termination of the study, only the herbicide + insecticide treatment of WL 318 had close to sufficient stem (and plant) numbers remaining for continued production.

Solarization to control downy brome (Bromus tectorum) for small-scale ecological restoration

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 112-119
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Orr ◽  
Ron J. Reuter ◽  
Shanti J. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Soil Solarization ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Repeated Treatment ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
A Site ◽  
And Control

AbstractDowny brome (Bromus tectorum L.) is a common impediment to ecological restoration, because its seedbank remains viable after repeated treatment with herbicides. Soil solarization has been used in ecological restoration to control seedbanks of invasive plants. Here we test the efficacy of soil solarization to reduce B. tectorum cover and establish native plants at a site in B. tectorum’s core invasive range with a long history of disturbance and infestation. Solarization raised soil temperatures by as much as 13 C and reduced B. tectorum densities by approximately 20-fold. In 30 plots solarized for 0 to 101 d, B. tectorum emerged in inverse abundance to treatment duration. Broadleaf weeds were less abundant than B. tectorum before treatment, and diminished under solarization, but their response to solarization was weaker than B. tectorum’s, and they emerged in greater numbers than B. tectorum 2 to 3 yr after treatment. When seeded after solarization, a native perennial bunchgrass, squirreltail [Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey], did not differ in abundance between solarized and control plots. Solarization may facilitate B. tectorum control on a small scale without jeopardizing the establishment of native plants, but only if treatment durations are long and subsequent management of broadleaf weeds and remnant B. tectorum is planned.

scholarly journals Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) distribution in the intermountain Western United States and its relationship to fire frequency, seasonality, and ignitions

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1493-1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethany A. Bradley ◽  
Caroline A. Curtis ◽  
Emily J. Fusco ◽  
John T. Abatzoglou ◽  
Jennifer K. Balch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Western United States

Weed Control in Established Dryland Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Weed Science ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 615-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Bromus Tectorum ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Untreated Check

Fall-applied herbicides were evaluated in field studies conducted in 1978 through 1980 in western Nebraska for selective weed control in nonirrigated, established alfalfa (Medicago sativaL. ‘Ranger’). All herbicides effectively controlled downy brome (Bromus tectorumL.). Broadleaf weeds were differentially controlled by the herbicides tested. All herbicide treatments increased forage production and protein content over that produced in the untreated check. Increasing the rate of metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one] and simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine] above amounts needed for effective weed control caused an increase in the protein content of alfalfa forage above that resulting from normal use rates.

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