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Herbicide and Fire Effects on Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis) and Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) in Invaded Prairie Remnants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Matt A. Bahm ,
Thomas G. Barnes  and
Kent C. Jensen
Matt A. Bahm*
Affiliation:
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007
Thomas G. Barnes
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546
Kent C. Jensen
Affiliation:
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: bahm.matt@gmail.com
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Abstract

Smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass are introduced cool-season perennial grasses known to invade grasslands throughout North America. During the fall of 2005 and spring of 2006, we implemented a restoration study at six native prairie sites in eastern South Dakota that have been invaded by smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass. Treatments included five herbicide combinations, a fall prescribed burn, and an untreated control to determine the potential of each for renovation of invaded native grasslands. Herbicide treatments tested were sulfosulfuron, imazapyr, imazapic + sulfosulfuron, and imazapyr + imazapic, and were applied in late September 2005 and mid-May 2006. Untreated control plots averaged 64% (± 3.1) smooth brome cover and 38% (± 5.5) Kentucky bluegrass cover after the third growing season. Smooth brome cover in herbicide treated plots ranged from 6 to 23% and Kentucky bluegrass cover ranged from 15 to 35% after the third growing season. Smooth brome cover was 20% (± 2.9) and Kentucky bluegrass cover was 19% (± 4.0) in burned plots after the third growing season. Spring and fall treatments had similar native plant cover after three growing seasons. Spring and fall application of 0.33 kg ai ha−1 imazapyr and 0.10 kg ai ha−1 imazapic + 0.16 kg ai ha−1 imazapyr had ≤ 10% smooth brome cover and increased native species cover after three growing seasons. Herbicides were effective at reducing cover of smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass, and can be incorporated with other management strategies to restore prairie remnants.

Keywords

imazapic, (±)-2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-5-methyl-3-pyridinecarboxylic acidimazapyr, (±)-2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acidsulfosulfuron, (±)-1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-[(2-ethanesulfonyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-yl)sulfonylureaKentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L. POAPR. smooth brome, Bromus inermis Leyss. BROINInvasive plantspostemergence herbicidesperennial grassrestorationnative prairie
Type
Research
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , April 2011 , pp. 189 - 197
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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