Leafy spurge and grass response to picloram and intensive grazing
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Authors: J. R. Lacey, and R. L. Sheley
Date: 1996
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 49
Number: 4
Pages: 311-314
Summary of Methods: Effects of short duration grazing by sheep or cattle combined with picloram treatments on leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) outside of Clyde Park, Montana. A grazing study was set up to examine the effects of 6 treatments testing 2 herbicide (no herbicide, picolram control) application levels, and three grazing (no grazing, cattle, or sheep) regimes have on leafy spurge and perennial grasses. Leafy spurge stems were counted annual in plots established along a permanent transect with each treatment. Kentucky bluegrass cover class was estimated along the permanent transect. Utilization of leafy spurge and Kentucky bluegrass was estimated by clipping paired plots inside and outside of the utilization cages.
Article Summary / Main Points:
• Sheep selectively grazed for leafy spurge utilizing 65-86% annually of leafy spurge, therefore reducing stem density. Cattle did not select for leafy spurge and therefore had no effect on stem density.
• Sheep grazing reduced the stature of leafy spurge plants and number of flowers produced.
• Leafy spurge densities after sheep grazing were less than 100 stems per meter square plot on the grazed and herbicide combination treatments throughout the study, while all other treatments exceeded 100 stems per plot.
• On the plots with the same combination treatment leafy spurge densities after cattle grazing increased by about 25%.
• Stem densities of leafy spurge double in control plots over the duration of this study.
• Either herbicide applications or grazing (preferably with sheep) are necessary to reduce the spread of leafy spurge.Vegetation Types: Mountain Shrublands
MLRA Ecoregions: 44B Central Rocky Mountain Valleys
Agrovoc Control Words: Weeds Grazing Herbicides
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: euphorbia esula, kentucky bluegrass, rangeland, biological control, noxious weeds, density, grazing management, weed management, poa pratensis l., targeted grazing
Annotation: This study used a high-intensity short-duration system unlike previous studies as season-long grazing is more common on spotted knapweed infested sites. Stocking rates were: sheep at 13.8 AUM/ha, cow/calf pairs at 23 AUM/ha and yearling heifers at 19.7 AUM/ha, and all livestock were in the trial pens for 2 days during the growing season and one day during the fall. Sheep utilized 65-85% of the leafy spurge each year of the study.
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