Suppression of Bromus tectorum L. by Established Perennial Grasses: Potential Mechanisms—Part One
Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass) is an Eurasian annual grass that has invaded ecosystems throughout the Intermountain west of the United States. Our purpose was to examine mechanisms by which established perennial grasses suppress the growth of B. tectorum. Using rhizotrons, the experiment was conduc...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2012-01-01
|
| Series: | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/632172 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832554443509334016 |
|---|---|
| author | Robert R. Blank Tye Morgan |
| author_facet | Robert R. Blank Tye Morgan |
| author_sort | Robert R. Blank |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass) is an Eurasian annual grass that has invaded ecosystems throughout the Intermountain west of the United States. Our purpose was to examine mechanisms by which established perennial grasses suppress the growth of B. tectorum. Using rhizotrons, the experiment was conducted over 5 growth cycles: (1) B. tectorum planted between perennial grasses; (2) perennials clipped and B. tectorum planted; (3) perennials clipped and B. tectorum planted into soil mixed with activated carbon; (4) perennials clipped, B. tectorum planted, and top-dressed with fertilizer, and; (5) perennial grasses killed and B. tectorum planted. Water was not limiting in this study. Response variables measured at the end of each growth cycle included above-ground mass and tissue nutrient concentrations. Relative to controls (B. tectorum without competition), established perennial grasses significantly hindered the growth of B. tectorum. Overall, biomass of B. tectorum, grown between established perennials, increased considerably after fertilizer addition and dramatically upon death of the perennials. Potential mechanisms involved in the suppression of B. tectorum include reduced nitrogen (possibly phosphorus) availability and coopting of biological soil space by perennial roots. Our data cannot confirm or reject allelopathic suppression. Understanding the mechanisms involved with suppression may lead to novel control strategies against B. tectorum. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a90fc70f5f294da28f5731649019321a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-7667 1687-7675 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-a90fc70f5f294da28f5731649019321a2025-02-03T05:51:34ZengWileyApplied and Environmental Soil Science1687-76671687-76752012-01-01201210.1155/2012/632172632172Suppression of Bromus tectorum L. by Established Perennial Grasses: Potential Mechanisms—Part OneRobert R. Blank0Tye Morgan1USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, 920 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512, USAUSDA-Agricultural Research Service, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, 920 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512, USABromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass) is an Eurasian annual grass that has invaded ecosystems throughout the Intermountain west of the United States. Our purpose was to examine mechanisms by which established perennial grasses suppress the growth of B. tectorum. Using rhizotrons, the experiment was conducted over 5 growth cycles: (1) B. tectorum planted between perennial grasses; (2) perennials clipped and B. tectorum planted; (3) perennials clipped and B. tectorum planted into soil mixed with activated carbon; (4) perennials clipped, B. tectorum planted, and top-dressed with fertilizer, and; (5) perennial grasses killed and B. tectorum planted. Water was not limiting in this study. Response variables measured at the end of each growth cycle included above-ground mass and tissue nutrient concentrations. Relative to controls (B. tectorum without competition), established perennial grasses significantly hindered the growth of B. tectorum. Overall, biomass of B. tectorum, grown between established perennials, increased considerably after fertilizer addition and dramatically upon death of the perennials. Potential mechanisms involved in the suppression of B. tectorum include reduced nitrogen (possibly phosphorus) availability and coopting of biological soil space by perennial roots. Our data cannot confirm or reject allelopathic suppression. Understanding the mechanisms involved with suppression may lead to novel control strategies against B. tectorum.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/632172 |
| spellingShingle | Robert R. Blank Tye Morgan Suppression of Bromus tectorum L. by Established Perennial Grasses: Potential Mechanisms—Part One Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| title | Suppression of Bromus tectorum L. by Established Perennial Grasses: Potential Mechanisms—Part One |
| title_full | Suppression of Bromus tectorum L. by Established Perennial Grasses: Potential Mechanisms—Part One |
| title_fullStr | Suppression of Bromus tectorum L. by Established Perennial Grasses: Potential Mechanisms—Part One |
| title_full_unstemmed | Suppression of Bromus tectorum L. by Established Perennial Grasses: Potential Mechanisms—Part One |
| title_short | Suppression of Bromus tectorum L. by Established Perennial Grasses: Potential Mechanisms—Part One |
| title_sort | suppression of bromus tectorum l by established perennial grasses potential mechanisms part one |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/632172 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertrblank suppressionofbromustectorumlbyestablishedperennialgrassespotentialmechanismspartone AT tyemorgan suppressionofbromustectorumlbyestablishedperennialgrassespotentialmechanismspartone |