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Imidazolinone Herbicides Improve Restoration of Great Plains Grasslands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Robert A. Masters ,
Scott J. Nissen ,
Roch E. Gaussoin ,
Daniel D. Beran  and
Robert N. Stougaard
Robert A. Masters
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric., Agric. Res. Serv., Lincoln, NE 68583
Scott J. Nissen
Affiliation:
Dep. Agron., Univ. Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583
Roch E. Gaussoin
Affiliation:
Dep. Hortic., Univ. Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583
Daniel D. Beran
Affiliation:
Dep. Agron., Univ. Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583
Robert N. Stougaard
Affiliation:
Dep. Agron., Univ. Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583
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Abstract

The productivity and native species diversity of Great Plains grasslands have been substantially reduced by past management that facilitated the establishment of invasive exotic weeds and displacement of native species. Management strategies are needed to rapidly restore the productive capacity and biological diversity of these degraded grasslands. Critically important phases of the grassland restoration process are the reintroduction and establishment of native species. Weed interference is the primary constraint to successful establishment of native plants. The goal of our research is to develop strategies that use multiple technologies, including herbicides, to expedite grassland revegetation with native grasses and forbs. Imidazolinone herbicides (AC 263,333, imazapyr, and imazethapyr) were used successfully to improve establishment of native perennial grasses (big bluestem, switchgrass, little bluestem) and selected forbs (blackeyed-susan, purple prairieclover, Illinois bundleflower, trailing crownvetch, and upright prairie coneflower) on cropland and as components of a strategy to revegetate leafy spurge-infested rangeland with native tallgrasses. Imazethapyr at 70 or 110 g ai/ha applied at planting resulted in stands of big bluestem and little bluestem that were similar or superior to stands established where atrazine was applied. Seedling grasses were susceptible to imazapyr at two of three study sites. Imazapyr at 560 g ai/ha plus sulfometuron at 100 g ai/ha applied in fall was the optimum treatment for suppression of leafy spurge and exotic cool-season grasses and establishment of big bluestem and switchgrass on degraded rangeland sites. Establishment of selected forbs was improved by PRE treatment with AC 263,222 or imazethapyr at 70 g ai/ha. This research provides evidence that the imidazolinone herbicides can be important components of integrated weed management strategies designed to reverse deterioration of grasslands by reestablishing native species, improving grassland productivity, and decreasing the prevalence of exotic weeds.

Keywords

leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L. # EPHESbig bluestem, Andropogon gerardii Vitman ‘Pawnee’ # ANOGEswitchgrass, Panicum virgatum L. ‘Trailblazer,’ # PANIpurple prairieclover, Dalea purpurea Venttrailing crownvetch, Coronilla varia L. # CZRYABiological diversitycool-season grassesforbsAC 263,222glyphosateimazapyrimazethapyrleafy spurgenative plantsprairie restorationrangelandsulfometurontallgrasseswarm-season grasseswildflowersANOGEANOSCCZRYADEMILEPHESPANIRATCORUDHI
Type
Symposium
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , June 1996 , pp. 392 - 403
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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