MIXTURES 



Most lowland ranges having fairly even terrain and uniform soil conditions are best seeded 

 to single species. A single species is easier to seed, more uniformly palatable, and easier to 

 manage than a mixture. Species that differ markedly in palatability , growth rate, and green 

 growth periods, can be sown in different units so that grazing can be rotated among them. 



In mountainous or other areas having a variety of soil and moisture conditions, mixtures 

 are recommended (Plummer et al. 1955). Short-lived fast-developing species seeded in mix- 

 tures with species that are longer lived but slower developing are useful for preventing erosion 

 and for controlling undesirable plants during the first year or two after seeding while the 

 slower growing plants are still small. 



The amount of seed of each species to be planted in the mixture should be less than that 

 recommended in table 3 . A safe rule to follow in order to have sufficient seed of the adapted 

 species on local sites where other components of the mixture will not become established is to 

 compute the proportional amount from the table, using the highest value shown. For example, 

 if it is desired that crested wheatgrass compose about half of the total mixture, use 4 rather 

 than 2^ pounds of seed of that species per acre in the mixture. 



MANAGEMENT OF SEEDED RANGES 



Seedings need total protection until plants are well established. A safe rule is to withhold 

 grazing until after the first seed crop has matured and then to permit only light grazing late that 

 season. This usually means that a seeding will be grazed for the first time during its second 

 or third growing season. 



Grazing too early in the life of a stand or too heavily year after year reduces the number 

 of plants; lessens their vigor and productivity, and encourages invasion by undesirable weeds 

 and brush. With mature stands of crested or fairway wheatgrasses on relatively level lands, 

 about 40 percent of the herbage volume should be left ungrazed if the grass is to maintain vigor 

 and high production. This utilization is heavier than is advisable for most native grasses. On 

 sloping lands , to provide litter for prevention of erosion and enhancement of percolation of 

 moisture into the ground, more unused herbage must be left on the ground than is required on 

 level lands. Few grazing trials have been made on other seeded species, but observations show 

 that most of them should be more lightly grazed than crested wheatgrass. 



Sagebrush often becomes reestablished on grass seedings, especially during the first year 

 when seeded plants are small and unable to suppress the reinvasion. Small sagebrush plants 

 have little importance (fig, 7), but as the shrubs grow and give the seeding a brushy aspect , 

 they reduce herbage production and accessibility of feed. 



Reinvading sagebrush can be controlled by beating, cutting, or burning, or by applying 

 chemical herbicides. These treatments are described below under "Site Preparation and 

 Seeding." Beating is feasible if the ground surface is relatively free of rocks and if the sage- 

 brush has attained a rather robust size with few branches or small plants below 6 inches. 

 Herbicides and fire can be used on sagebrush of all ages. Burning should be planned to prevent 

 injury to the seeded species. This can be accomplished by allowing litter to accumulate by 

 grazing lightly for a year or two and then burning late in the season- -preferably while the soil 

 is damp. 



After sagebrush control, the forage plants should be grazed only lightly or late for at 

 least one season. 



15 



