Management of Buffelgrass and Kleberg Bluestem

Management and Control of Buffelgrass and Kleberg

Bluestem

Eric GrahmannCaesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

CoauthorsMike Hehmann – Hixon RanchForrest Smith – TAMUK-CKWRI-STNBlake Martin - TAMUK-CKWRIDr. Tim Fulbright - TAMUK-CKWRIAnna Lund

IntroductionExotic Grasses

• Widespread in S. TX1

• Forbs less abundant4

• Bareground limiting3

• Insects and grassland birds reduced2

Buffelgrass

Kleberg Bluestem

Exotic Grass Landscape

Ranch History (1980s – 1990s) War against brushPlant exotic grass

(1990s) – Fire was discoveredAggressive burning program

• (1-2yr intervals)

Ranch History (1990’s)

Aggressive Burning Regime

5.

4. 3. 2. 1.

7. 6.

360 ft.

270 ft.

630 ft.

yr 1

yr 4yr 3yr 2

IntroductionBobwhite densities half2Avoided by scaled quail

IntroductionControl of exotics and restoration

unsuccessful5Exotic grass research group (2008)

• Shotgun approach

Methods Pilot study

• 2 sites (Kleberg bluestem and buffelgrass)• 2 blocks/site• 0.6 acre plots

(5 treatments and a control)• Spray Fusillade• Spray Fusillade and Burn Mow Plant forbs

• Disk and plant natives• Flexible timing of treatment

Kleberg Site (Sept. 2009)

Buffelgrass Site (Sept. 2009)

Hixon Ranch

Sandy Loam (Buffelgrass)

Saline Clay Loam (Kleberg Bluestem)

Ranch Plots

Ranch Plots

Pilot Plots

Pilot Plots

Other Plots

Other Plots

Kleberg Bluestem - Pretreatment

Kleberg Bluestem

Pretreatment (Sept. 2009)

Spray Fusillade (April 2012)

Control(April 2012)

Mow/Spray Fusillade (April 2012)

Burn/Spray Fusillade(Mar. 2012)

Plant Forbs/Spray Fusillade (April 2012)

Pretreatment (Sept. 2009)

Buffelgrass - Pretreatment

BuffelgrassPretreatment (Sept. 2009)

Mow/Spray Fusillade (April 2012) Spray Fusillade (April 2012)Control(April 2012)

Plant Forbs/Spray Fusillade (April 2012)

MethodsRanch study (Not Replicated)

• 1 site (buffelgrass)• 10 acre plots

(4 treatments and a control)• Plow and Disk Disk / plant natives

• Spray Roundup and Plant natives

Repeat Roundup Application32 oz/acre: Burned / Sprayed 3 Times

Before: July. 2008

September 2009

Before: July. 2008

April 2010

Repeat Roundup Application

Repeat Roundup Application

October 2010

Before: July. 2008

Mowboard Plow and Repeat Disking

September 2009

Burned, Plowed, and Disked Twice

Before: July. 2008

Burned, Plowed, and Disked Twice

October 2010

Plow and Repeat Disking

Before: July. 2008

Repeat Roundup – Drill Natives

May 2010

Before: July. 2008

Repeat Glyphosate – Drill Natives

October 2010

Wildlife

ConclusionsManage exoticsFusillade not effectiveBuffelgrass multiple times roundupSoil disturbance exacerbates invasionBut, disturbance needed in monoculturesRestoration requires

• Preparation• Treatment flexibility• Follow up

ContributorsHixon Ranch and FamilySouth Texas Natives ProgramRene BarrientosNRCS - E. “Kika” de la Garza Plant

Materials Center Native Plant Society of TexasHarvey Weil Sportsman FoundationArthur Seeligson Conservation FundRyan PetersMeagan Lesak

Questions ?

Sources1. Cox, J. R., M. H. Martin-R, F. A. Ibarra-F, J. H. Fourie, N. F. G. Rethman, and D. G. Wilcox. 1988. The

influence of climate and soils on the distribution of four African grasses. Journal of Range Management 41:127-139.

2. Flanders, A. A., W. P. Kuvlesky, D. C. Ruthven, R. E. Zaiglin, R. L. Bingham, T.E. Fulbright, F. Hernandez, and L. A. Brennan. 2006. Effects of invasive exotic grasses on south Texas rangeland breeding birds. The Auk 123:171-182.3. Sands, J. P. 2007. Impacts of invasive exotic grasses on northern bobwhite habitat use in south

Texas. Masters Thesis, Texas A&M University-Kingville, Kingsville, Texas, USA.4. Sands, J. P., L. A. Brennan, F. Hernandez, W. P. Kuvlesky, Jr., J. F. Gallagher, D. C. Ruthven, III, and J. E. Pittman, III. 2009. Impacts of buffelgrass (Pennisetum cilare) on a forb community in south Texas. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 2:130-1405. Tjelmeland, A. D., T. E. Fulbright, and J. Lloyd-Reilley. 2008. Evaluation of Herbicides for restoring native grasses in buffelgrass-dominated grasslands. Restoration Ecology 16: 263-269.