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.
