REMOVAL OF COMPETING VEGETATION 



Stands of undesirable plants use the soil moisture needed for establishment and survival 

 of seeded species; this has been demonstrated in cheatgrass, big sagebrush, mountain meadows, 

 and other types in the Intermountain region (Blaisdell 1949; Hull and Stewart 1948; Mueggler and 

 Blaisdell 1951). The more the competing vegetation is reduced, the better the stand of seeded 

 plants will be . 



The competitive effect of sagebrush on grass was shown by results of an experiment near 

 Malta, in Cassia County, where an area was subjected to treatments that removed different 

 amounts of sagebrush before seeding. Before treatment, the area had 20 sagebrush plants per 

 100 square feet and was producing 50 pounds of native grass per acre. Railing twice killed 53 

 percent of the brush. Three years after treatment, the yield of native grass had-increased to 

 210 pounds per acre and the seeded grass yielded 530 pounds for a total of 740 pounds of grass 

 per acre. Railing once and burning killed 92 percent of the sagebrush. After this reduction, 

 the native grass yield increased to 335 pounds per acre and the seeded grass yielded 1,785 

 pounds for a total of 2, 120 pounds of grass. 



At eight locations in southern Idaho, crested wheatgrass or intermediate wheatgrass or 

 both were drilled in the fall of 1954 in standing sagebrush and on adjacent areas where sage- 

 brush had been plowed. Seeded plants emerged equally well on plowed and unplowed areas, but 

 by the third growing season there were 20 times more well-established grass plants in the 

 plowed area- -an average of 1.6 plants per square foot. The average height of the grass in the 

 sagebrush was only one-fifth of that where sagebrush had been eradicated. 



Southeast of Boise, perennial grasses were drilled for 4 years where burning at different 

 seasons had reduced the cheatgrass by varying amounts. Seeded species emerged equally well 

 in all cheatgrass densities, but as cheatgrass was reduced from an average of 1,325 plants per 

 square foot to 21 plants, survival of the seeded grass after 5 years was improved from almost 

 none to 1.7 plants per square foot (Hull and Stewart 1948). 



SEEDING PROCEDURES 

 METHOD 



The seeding method to be used will be governed by the topography, soil, and the treatment 

 used to remove competing vegetation. The best method will distribute seed uniformly and at the 

 most favorable depth for successful seedling emergence and survival. 



Drilling is the best method for attaining both of these goals; and wherever a drill can be 

 used, it should be. Double disk drills are satisfactory for well-prepared, trash-free seedbeds. 

 For most range seedings, however, the single -disk drill has a wider range of adaptability. 

 Where the seedbed is loose, a depth -regulating band can be attached to the furrow- opening disks 

 of single-disk drills to prevent seeding too deep (fig. 5). 



Deep-furrow disk or shovel-type drills place the seed at the bottom of furrows, where 

 moisture conditions favor germination and growth of seedlings. They also suppress small weeds 

 on either side of the furrow by covering them with soil. Deep furrows are not desirable on sites 

 where they would be flooded or would be filled with soil by blowing, washing, or slc^ughing. On 

 sloping lands, furrows should be on the contour. 



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