Strong benefits of species diversity have been demonstrated in mixed cropping on rangelands. In order to determine the best composition of mixed cropping of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) with three cool season grass species (Agropyron elongatum, Agropyron desertorum and Festuca arundinacea), on yield and quality traits, an experiment was conducted during two years (2009 and 2010) in Bojnourd, Iran....

The Columbia root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne chitwoodi race 2, is associated with several plant species, including members of the tribe Triticeae. We evaluated 15 diploid species for M. chitwoodi gall and reproductive indices from the following genera: Agropyron, Pseudoroegneria, Hordeum, Psathyrostachys, and Thinopyrum. Species from the genus Thinopyrum (Thinopyrum bessarabicum; J genome) and ...

Pine regeneration following wildland fire continues to be a serious problem across the western and southeastern U.S. Frequency of large wildfires has increased over the last several decades and restoration of these burned areas is a major problem confronting land managers. Prescribed fires are used primarily to reduce heavy fuel loads and secondarily to reduce competition or prepare sites for n...

Integrating use of seedings of perennial cool-season grasses with native range is used to increase available forage and for maintaining a high plane of nutrition for grazing livestock. Our goal was to evaluate performance of yearling cattle and stand persistence of 3 released wheatgrass cultivars. Twice replicated 3-ha pastures were seeded to ‘Rosana’ western wheatgrass [Pascopyron smithii (Ryd...

Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski) is an exotic annual grass invading western rangelands. Invasion by medusahead is problematic because it decreases livestock forage production, degrades wildlife habitat, reduces biodiversity, and increases fire frequency. Revegetation of medusahead-invaded sagebrush steppe is needed to increase ecosystem and economic productivity. Most efforts...