SEEDING SOUTHERN IDAHO RANGELANDS 



INTRODUCTION 



Seeding is the key to quick restoration of an estimated 6 million acres of deteriorated 

 southern Idaho rangeland. Seeding can increase forage and produce more feed for livestock and 

 game animals than would be available naturally. Also, increased herbage usually helps protect 

 the soil from forces that cause erosion, and it promotes more effective infiltration of moisture 

 into the ground. Seeding depleted lands also indirectly benefits adjacent ranges since use of the 

 additional forage obtained by seeding can lighten grazing pressure on these areas and facilitate 

 their natural improvement. 



Some seeded species are suitable for grazing earlier in the season than are the plants now 

 occupying lands that need seeding (figs. 1 and 2). Grazing can be extended later into the season 

 by seeding late-maturing species. Yearly production by perennial species that are adapted to a 

 site varies less than that of annuals. Hence, perennials furnish a more dependable source of 

 forage than annuals (Stewart and Hull 1949)"'' (fig. 3) and this forage has better quality. This is 

 especially true where the annuals are undesirable or poisonous species such as medusahead 

 and halogeton (fig. 4). Seeding key areas with grass will replace annual weeds that are hosts of 

 the beet leafhopper and will thus reduce losses of beets, beans, and tomatoes caused by the 

 curly-top virus (Piemeisel and Chamberlin 1936). 



Figxire 1. -- Fairway 

 wheat grass plant 

 at left had green 

 leaves 8 inches 

 long in mid-March 

 1957. Cheatgrass 

 at right and in 

 foreground is only 

 1^ inches tall. 

 Elmore County. 



^ See References, pp. 27-28. 

 A list of common and scientific names of all species mentioned appears on pp. 25-26. 



1 



