Study

Control of exotic annual grasses to restore native forbs in abandoned agricultural land

  • Published source details Marushia R.G. & Allen E.B. (2011) Control of exotic annual grasses to restore native forbs in abandoned agricultural land. Restoration Ecology, 19, 45-54.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Apply herbicide and sow seeds of shrubland plants to control grass

Action Link
Shrubland and Heathland Conservation

Cut/mow to control grass and sow seed of shrubland plants

Action Link
Shrubland and Heathland Conservation
  1. Apply herbicide and sow seeds of shrubland plants to control grass

    A randomized, replicated, controlled study in 2005–2006 in sagebrush scrub habitat, dominated by non-native grasses in the USA (Marushia & Allen 2011) found that sowing seeds, followed by spraying with herbicide did not reduce the cover of non-native species nor did it increase the cover of native species, but it did increase the number of native plant species. In areas that were seeded and sprayed with herbicide, cover of non-native plant species (40%) was not significantly different from areas that had been seeded but not sprayed with herbicide (63%). Native species cover was also not significantly different in areas that had been seeded and sprayed with herbicide (40%) compared to areas that had been seeded but not sprayed (cover 24%). However, areas that were seeded and sprayed with herbicide had a higher number of native plant species (7 species) than areas that were seeded but not sprayed (5 species). In 2005 five 5 m2 plots were sown with seeds of shrubland species and sprayed with herbicide, while five other plots were sown with seeds but not sprayed with herbicide. Plant cover was measured in a 0.5 m2 quadrat placed in each plot.

    (Summarised by: Phil Martin)

  2. Cut/mow to control grass and sow seed of shrubland plants

    A randomized, replicated, controlled study in 2005–2006 in sagebrush scrub habitat, dominated by exotic grass species in California, USA (Marushia & Allen 2011) found that sowing seeds of native species, followed by mowing, did not reduce the cover of non-native species nor did it increase the cover or number of native plant species. In areas that were seeded and mown cover of non-native plant species (43%) was not significantly different from areas that had been seeded but not mown (63%). Cover and number of native plant species were also not significantly different in areas that had been seeded and mown (cover: 18%; number of species: 5) compared to areas that had been seeded but not mown (cover: 24%; number of species: 4). In 2005 five 5 m2 plots were sown with seeds of shrubland species and mown, while five other plots were sown with seeds but not mown. Plant cover was measured in 0.5 m2 quadrats placed in each plot.

    (Summarised by: Phil Martin)

Output references
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