Cbeatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) has become the dominant species over large areas of rangeland in the Great Basin region of the western United States. Rapid germination at low temperature may contribute to the competitive success of cheatgrass in areas formerly dominated by native sagebrush and bunchgrass species. The objectives of this study were to determine whether seed priming could be used ...

The description of soil microbial community structure by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles is based on the relationship between the phylogeny of microorganisms and their PLFA profiles. Based on this relationship, two community based microbiological measurements, namely, potential C source utilization patterns in Biolog microtiter plates and PLFA profiles were used to examine metabolic fin...

Three beef cattle diets were assessed for their potential to produce odorous compounds from cattle feces excreted during the growing and finishing periods. Eight pens containing 51 steers of varying proportions of Brahman and MARC III genotypes were fed either a chopped bromegrass hay diet or a corn silage diet for a 119-d growing period. After the growing period, all steers were switched to th...

Elevated CO2 and warming may alter terrestrial ecosystems by promoting invasive plants with strong community and ecosystem impacts. Invasive plant responses to elevated CO2 and warming are difficult to predict, however, because of the many mechanisms involved, including modification of phenology, physiology, and cycling of nitrogen and water. Understanding the relative and interactive importanc...

Managers reduce piñon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) trees that are encroaching on sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities to lower fuel loads and increase cover of desirable understory species. All plant species in these communities depend on soil water held at . 1.5 MPa matric potential in the upper 0.3 m of soil for nutrient diffusion to roots and major growth in spring (resource g...

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is an invasive weed in western North America found primarily growing at elevations less than 2200 m. We asked whether cheatgrass is capable of becoming adapted to a marginal habitat, by investigating a population at a high elevation invasion edge. We used a combination of methods, including reciprocal field transplants, controlled environment studies and molecular a...

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is of growing concern among farmers, ranchers, and researchers in the intermountain west due to its ability to alter rangeland vegetation communities and their associated fire regimes. Quickbird multi-spectral imagery (spatial resolution 2.4 mpp) was used to detect and model cheatgrass presence in southeastern Idaho. Training sites were created using 2003 field data...