Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
FEIS Home Page

SPECIES: Agropyron cristatum
Photo by Cassondra Skinner, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

INTRODUCTORY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION:

Zlatnik, Elena. 1999. Agropyron cristatum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov /database/feis/plants/graminoid/agrcri/all.html [].

ABBREVIATION:

AGRCRI

SYNONYMS:

No entry

NRCS PLANT CODE:

AGCR

COMMON NAMES:

crested wheatgrass
Fairway crested wheatgrass
Fairway wheatgrass

TAXONOMY:

The scientific name of crested wheatgrass is Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. (Poaceae) [30,56]. Wheatgrasses (Triticeae), including crested wheatgrass, frequently hybridize and often produce fertile crosses [11,33,115]. Crested wheatgrass readily crosses with desert wheatgrass (A. desertorum) to produce fertile hybrids, the most common of which is called 'Hycrest.' Some systematists do not consider crested and desert wheatgrass to be distinct species [54].

LIFE FORM:

Graminoid

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS:

No special status

OTHER STATUS:

None


DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE

SPECIES: Agropyron cristatum
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION:

Crested wheatgrass is an introduced species, originally from Russian and Siberian steppe habitats. It has been planted from Alaska south to California, throughout western Canada, east in the United States to Ohio, and south to Texas. It was first successfully established in the United States between 1907 and 1913 [35]. Crested wheatgrass and desert wheatgrass were considered distinct species upon their first introduction to the United States in 1906, but since, the two species have often been referred to and treated as one [34]. Crested and desert wheatgrass became prevalent in the United States in the 1930s when they were used to seed abandoned cropland. Crested wheatgrass is most common in the northern Great Plains, especially North and South Dakota, eastern Montana and Wyoming, and in southern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta. The grass is used throughout the arid and semi-arid regions of the West [105]. Crested and desert wheatgrass seedings have been established on 10 million acres (3.2 million ha) [5] and, by some accounts, as much as 26 million acres (10.4 ha) in North America [78].

ECOSYSTEMS:

FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES31 Shinnery
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES33 Southwestern shrub steppe
FRES34 Chaparral-mountain shrub
FRES35 Pinyon-juniper
FRES36 Mountain grasslands
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES39 Prairie
FRES40 Desert grasslands
FRES42 Annual grasslands

STATES:

AK   AZ    AR   CA    CO   IA    ID     IL     IN   KS   MO    MT
NE   NV   NM   NY   ND   OH   OR   SD   TX   UT   WA    WY

AB   BC   SK

BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS:

 3 Southern Pacific Border
 4 Sierra Mountains
 5 Columbia Plateau
 6 Upper Basin and Range
 7 Lower Basin and Range
 8 Northern Rocky Mountains
 9 Middle Rocky Mountains
10 Wyoming Basin
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
12 Colorado Plateau
13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
14 Great Plains
15 Black Hills Uplift
16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands

KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS:

No entry

SAF COVER TYPES:

 42 Bur oak
 68 Mesquite
209 Bristlecone pine
210 Interior Douglas-fir
218 Lodgepole pine
219 Limber pine
220 Rocky Mountain juniper
233 Oregon white oak
236 Bur oak
237 Interior ponderosa pine
238 Western juniper
239 Pinyon-juniper
241 Western live oak
242 Mesquite
243 Sierra Nevada mixed conifer

SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES:

101 Bluebunch wheatgrass
102 Idaho fescue
103 Green fescue
104 Antelope bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
105 Antelope bitterbrush-Idaho fescue
106 Bluegrass scabland
107 Western juniper/big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass
108 Alpine Idaho fescue
109 Ponderosa pine shrubland
110 Ponderosa pine-grassland
201 Blue oak woodland
206 Chamise chaparral
207 Scrub oak mixed chaparral
209 Montane shrubland
210 Bitterbrush
212 Blackbush
215 Valley grassland
301 Bluebunch wheatgrass-blue grama
302 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg bluegrass
303 Bluebunch wheatgrass-western wheatgrass
304 Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass
305 Idaho fescue-Richardson needlegrass
306 Idaho fescue-slender wheatgrass
309 Idaho fescue-western wheatgrass
310 Needle-and-thread-blue grama
311 Rough fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass
312 Rough fescue-Idaho fescue
314 Big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
315 Big sagebrush-Idaho fescue
316 Big sagebrush-rough fescue
317 Bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
318 Bitterbrush-Idaho fescue
319 Bitterbrush-rough fescue
320 Black sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
321 Black sagebrush-Idaho fescue
322 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany-bluebunch wheatgrass
324 Threetip sagebrush-Idaho fescue
401 Basin big sagebrush
402 Mountain big sagebrush
403 Wyoming big sagebrush
404 Threetip sagebrush
405 Black sagebrush
406 Low sagebrush
407 Stiff sagebrush
408 Other sagebrush types
412 Juniper-pinyon woodland
413 Gambel oak
503 Arizona chaparral
504 Juniper-pinyon pine woodland
509 Transition between oak-juniper woodland and mahogany-oak association
601 Bluestem prairie
602 Bluestem-prairie sandreed
603 Prairie sandreed-needlegrass
604 Bluestem-grama prairie
605 Sandsage prairie
606 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass
607 Wheatgrass-needlegrass
608 Wheatgrass-grama-needlegrass
609 Wheatgrass-grama
610 Wheatgrass
611 Blue grama-buffalograss
612 Sagebrush-grass
613 Fescue grassland
614 Crested wheatgrass
703 Black grama-sideoats grama
704 Blue grama-western wheatgrass
705 Blue grama-galleta
707 Blue grama-sideoats grama-black grama
708 Bluestem-dropseed
709 Bluestem-grama
710 Bluestem prairie
711 Bluestem-sacahuista prairie
713 Grama-muhly-threeawn
714 Grama-bluestem
715 Grama-buffalograss
716 Grama-feathergrass
717 Little bluestem-Indiangrass-Texas wintergrass
718 Mesquite-grama
719 Mesquite-liveoak-seacoast bluestem
721 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (plains)
722 Sand sagebrush-mixed prairie
728 Mesquite-granjeno-acacia
733 Juniper-oak
734 Mesquite-oak
735 Sideoats grama-sumac-juniper

HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES:

Crested wheatgrass has been planted throughout North America in a variety of ecosystems; the appearance of the species within a specific cover type does not necessarily indicate that crested wheatgrass is particularly well adapted to those climatic conditions.

In the Great Basin in Nevada, crested wheatgrass thrives in mesic communities with big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), basin wildrye (Elymus cinereus), Sandburg bluegrass (Poa secunda), Columbia needlegrass (Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. dorei), and slender wheatgrass (E. trachycaulus) [38].

Vegetation typings describing communities dominated by crested wheatgrass follow.

Phyto-edaphic communities of the Upper Rio Puerco Watershed, New Mexico [43]
Plant associations of the Crooked River National Grassland [61]


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

SPECIES: Agropyron cristatum
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE:

Crested wheatgrass and its close relative, desert wheatgrass, have been planted in millions of acres in the arid and semi-arid West to benefit livestock and wildlife. Native shrub habitats have been replanted with crested wheatgrass to increase range production. Crested wheatgrass has high yields and supplies green forage in both spring and fall [67,85], and can be important to livestock and wildlife when other preferred food sources are unavailable [112].

PALATABILITY:

Crested wheatgrass is highly palatable and a nutritious spring forage. It can be especially useful to ranchers in the Intermountain West, where spring forage shortages are common [13,60,67]. Crested wheatgrass can be grazed 2 or 3 weeks earlier than native grasses in Utah, Montana, and the Great Basin, and 3 to 4 weeks earlier in Colorado [57, 63,66,83]. Crested wheatgrass tends to become fibrous at maturity, and therefore palatability and nutritional quality of the plant decline after June or so [46,76,86]. Crested wheatgrass provides little summer grazing [10]. In some habitat types with sufficient soil moisture, crested wheatgrass continues to grow in fall after summer dormancy [85].

Reports conflict on the importance of crested wheatgrass to wild ungulates. In Oregon and Nevada, mule deer appear to prefer native grasses and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) to crested wheatgrass. Grass contributes less to the diets of pronghorn than to deer, and crested wheatgrass is minimally used by pronghorn in the Great Basin and Intermountain West [112].

Wildlife use of crested wheatgrass is detailed in the following table [8,9,13,16,19,39,56,64,65,68,69,71,73,73,79,83,86,104,116]:


               Alberta  Montana    Idaho       Oregon   Utah
Cattle         ----     high       high        high     high
Domestic sheep high     ----       ----        ----     high
Elk            high     spring use spring use  ----     spring use
Mule Deer      low-none low        medium      medium   low-none
Bighorn sheep  high     medium     ----        ----     ----
Pronghorn      ----     low-none   low         low-none low-none
Moose          medium   ----       ----        ----     ----
Small mammals  -----    ----       low-none    ----     ----

Little information is available about the role of crested wheatgrass in the diets of elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain sheep in the Great Basin, but Urness [112] concludes from anecdotal information that given an abundant supply, these three species would eat crested wheatgrass. A 1983 study in south-central Utah found bison diets to be dominated by Agropyron spp., presumably mostly crested wheatgrass.

Crested wheatgrass is highly palatable to and good cover for black-tailed jackrabbits [47,57]. Reynolds [100] says black-tailed jackrabbits appear to be the only hare species to maintain population levels in southeastern Idaho in crested wheatgrass stands that have replaced native sagebrush habitat.

Mule deer seasonal use of crested wheatgrass in the Great Basin was as follows. Data are means and 1 standard error [9].

time                             Percentage of diet  
late fall (Nov.)                 51.1 (30.3)
early winter (Dec.)               1.9  (2.0)
mid-winter (Jan.-Feb.)            2.5  (0.8)
late winter (1-20 March)         37.9 (16.9)
early spring (21 March-10 April) 89.7  (5.3)
mid-spring (11-30 April)         57.2 (17.6)

Grasshoppers (especially Auloara elliotti) prefer crested wheatgrass stands to native vegetation in Idaho. Grasshopper can compete with cattle for available forage during periodic infestations [41].

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

Green crested wheatgrass can be a valuable addition to the browse-dominated diets of wild ungulates in winter [9,112]. In Central Oregon, crested wheatgrass consistently contained more than 20% crude protein during the winter and early spring, leading Urness [113] to conclude that it provided better forage value than native grass species for white-tailed deer.

At certain times during the year, crested wheatgrass lacks highly digestible protein [27]. In Alberta, crested wheatgrass was deficient in crude protein for pregnant ewes [83]. By mid-June, the nutritional value of crested wheatgrass can be too low for lactating cattle. By the end of the summer, crested wheatgrass has low total protein values and lacks adequate phosphorus for cattle [8].

Deer mice occupy moderately grazed crested wheatgrass range in Utah. Food in their caches on these sites was predominantly mature desert and crested wheatgrass seedheads. When livestock grazing exceeded 50% use, the deer mice population dropped by at least 20% [44].

Nutritional content (%) of crested wheatgrass in Alberta, Canada, was [85]:

Stage of    Sample Crude   Crude Ether   N-free  Total Ca    P
maturity    date   protein fiber extract extract ash

preflower   5/10   22.7    19.9    2.7     45.8   8.85  0.42 0.27
heading     6/8    13.9    29.2    1.6     48.0   7.45  0.29 0.24
flowering   6/29   11.7    33.1    1.8     46.3   7.12  0.32 0.19
seed ripe   7/30    8.5    32.5    1.9     51.1   5.92  0.33 0.14
seed shed  10/21    4.5    34.7    1.9     52.1   6.85  0.30 0.05

COVER VALUE:

Seeding of historically sagebrush-dominated communities with crested wheatgrass may replace the shrub habitat necessary for many passerine birds [116]. In southeastern Idaho, Reynolds [100] found fewer nesting species and fewer individual birds on crested wheatgrass plantations than in the native sagebrush habitat. However, grassland bird species may respond favorably to seeded stands of crested wheatgrass that replace brush habitats, except when the area is heavily grazed. In Nevada, ground-nesting bird species comprised 91% of nesting birds in an established crested wheatgrass stand, whereas an unconverted sagebrush habitat with 21% shrub cover supported only 30% ground nesters [87].

In southeastern Idaho, deer mice, montane voles, Ord's kangaroo rats, and Townsend's ground squirrels all frequently use the crested wheatgrass habitat type for food and cover [72]. However, another study in southeastern Idaho reported fewer deer mice, least chipmunks, and northern grasshopper mice in crested wheatgrass stands than in the original sagebrush community. Numbers of western harvest mice were higher in ungrazed crested wheatgrass than in the native sagebrush community but were not increased in the domestic sheep-grazed crested wheatgrass treatment. The authors concluded that conversion to crested wheatgrass and grazing decreased small mammal density and had synergistic negative effects on the mice [101].

VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES:

Crested wheatgrass has been used extensively to seed unused cropland and to revegetate burns and degraded areas, including mine spoils [3,6,31,99,105,109].

If crested wheatgrass is used to reclaim disturbed sites, a grass monoculture may prohibit the return of predisturbance animal and plant diversity [92,117]. Dusek [37] reviewed a mining reclamation site in southeastern Montana that was seeded with crested wheatgrass. Crested wheatgrass established easily, but the resulting community lacked diversity and sufficient forage quality to support mule deer. As a result, Dusek concluded that managers should not use ease of establishment as the primary characteristic for choosing revegetation species [37].

Crested wheatgrass has lower belowground productivity than native bunchgrass species. Over time, this difference can result in higher soil bulk densities, less organic material in the soil, and poorer nutrient relations in crested wheatgrass than in native grass habitats [36,78].

Crested wheatgrass is used for erosion control [2,22,23]. However, wide row spacing, recommended to increase plant productivity, may persist for years following establishment of the stand. These gaps leave the areas between rows susceptible to erosion, especially if the competitiveness of crested wheatgrass prohibits the establishment of other plants [36,75,78].

Land managers have had some success preventing the spread of exotic weeds like halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) by seeding unused land with crested wheatgrass [2]. However, heavy grazing appears to neutralize this benefit [45]. Crested wheatgrass' ability to prevent the spread of weeds may also depend on climatic conditions. In northwestern Utah, Cook [29] studied grass seedling competition with halogeton. He concluded that crested wheatgrass is better adapted to low rainfall habitats and competes better with halogeton than do native tall (Elytrigia elongata) and intermediate (E. intermedia) wheatgrasses. Near Cache Creek, British Columbia, established crested wheatgrass stands inhibited the spread of diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) on arid study plots that received 8 inches (20 cm) annual precipitation. In areas of the study plots with higher soil moisture and in more mesic climatic areas, crested wheatgrass did not exclude diffuse knapweed as successfully, leading the authors to conclude that soil moisture competition during key growth stages caused knapweed failure [15].

Popovich and Pyke [96] concluded that seeding a wildfire-burned area in south-central Idaho to crested wheatgrass did not significantly reduce reproduction potential of Picabo milkvetch (Astragalus oniciformis), a sensitive plant endemic to the north-central Snake River Plain.

OTHER USES AND VALUES:

No entry

OTHER MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

The seeds of crested wheatgrass are relatively large and easy to process and plant, and its seedlings can withstand drought and cold conditions [6,67,105]. Crested wheatgrass is resilient under grazing pressure [67,89,76,102], easy to establish [63], and may compete successfully against exotic weeds.

Cheatgrass competition appears to reduce root growth in crested wheatgrass and thereby to lower long-term survival and competitiveness, most likely due to competition for water [1,42,55,62,71,103,104]. In a laboratory study, Hycrest wheatgrass grown with cheatgrass at planting ratios of 1:1 and 1:4 suffered reductions in leaf area of 46 and 76%, respectively. Researchers concluded, however, that crested wheatgrass competed more successfully with cheatgrass than did bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) [1]. Francis and Pyke [42] suggest that by seeding crested wheatgrass at lower than recommended densities in cheatgrass areas, crested wheatgrass is favored because greater spacing reduces within-species competition.

Light to moderate grazing (up to 70% utilization) invigorates a crested wheatgrass stand and extends its life [19,110]. Heavy grazing of crested wheatgrass stands may speed up the re-invasion of sagebrush or of weeds such as Russian thistle (Salsola kali). Above 88% use, production decreases, plants die, and stand quality suffers [19].

When crested wheatgrass is planted as part of a seed mix, it may outcompete and crowd out the other species in the mix, including native species [24,83]. Seeding a disturbed site with crested wheatgrass may prohibit the establishment of other species. Crested wheatgrass contributes heavily to the seedbank, and crested wheatgrass seeds may take advantage of openings in the canopy [83].

Crested wheatgrass seed shatters easily. Timing of seed harvest is crucial. Seed harvested too early, before the seed has matured, is far less likely to germinate. Seedling emergence declined in the field from 46% for mature seeds, to 33, 10, and 3% for dough, milk, and premilk stages, respectively. In cold storage (0 to 19? Fahrenheit (-18 to -7?C)), seed viability remained at 80 to 90% after 20 years [67].

Casterline [25] suggests the following conditions to germinate crested wheatgrass seeds:

pre-chill days to break dormancy:  47oF for 7 days
days needed to break dormancy:  at least 5
temperature needed for germination:  41-86oF
days allowed for germination test:  14
total days to break dormancy and test germination:  21   

Drilling is more successful than broadcasting seed [67]. Clark and McLean [26] found spring sowing resulted in better germination of crested wheatgrass than autumn sowing in interior British Columbia.

Concentration of cattle on seeded crested wheatgrass lower elevation sites may conserve native upland sites for use by wildlife [112].

Crested wheatgrass is a major host of the black grass bug (Labops hesperius), which can severely damage grass stands. Other insect pests of crested wheatgrass are leafhoppers, grubs, and mature click beetles and billbugs [53].


BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

SPECIES: Agropyron cristatum
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Crested wheatgrass is a cool-season, medium-height, exotic perennial bunchgrass. The plant is drought- and cold-resistant and long-lived, enabling it to establish in recognizable monocultures [105]. Crested wheatgrass culms are 10 to 40 inches (25-100 cm) tall [30] and widely spaced. The deep, finely branched fibrous roots of crested wheatgrass penetrate to a maximum depth of 8 feet (2.4 m), with most roots extending to a depth of 3.3 feet (1 m) [80]. Crested wheatgrass is common in the Northern Great Plains and in Canada [105], while desert wheatgrass is more common throughout the western United States. Desert wheatgrass is tall and coarse, while crested wheatgrass is smaller, leafier, and has broader seedheads. Crested wheatgrass is a diploid species, which differentiates it genetically from desert wheatgrass, a tetraploid [34].

Crested wheatgrass remains productive for more than 30 years. Stand mortality is virtually unknown, except in cases of extreme drought during critical phenological stages [51].

RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM:

Hemicryptophyte

REGENERATION PROCESSES:

Crested wheatgrass reproduces by seed or vegetatively and is self-sterile [35]. Crested wheatgrass seedlings are very hardy, vigorous, and easily established [67]. The seeds of crested wheatgrass germinate well throughout a range of temperatures [7], allowing the plant to spread rapidly [62]. Crested wheatgrass produces tillers, and its ability to spread vegetatively contributes to its presence at higher elevations, where the growing season may not be long enough each year to produce seed [51]. However, in drier habitats, the ability of rhizomatous native grasses to propagate without setting seed allows them to compete well with crested wheatgrass [85]. Crested wheatgrass is able to emerge from a relatively deep soil depth, which allows it to escape the more extreme environmental soil conditions closer to the surface. Crested wheatgrass shoots have long, numerous, and quick-growing roots, which may explain strong seedling establishment [67].

SITE CHARACTERISTICS:

Crested wheatgrass is tolerant of very cold and very dry conditions, typical of both its native habitat in Russia and some areas of the northern Great Plains [12,24, 66,103]. It grows best on medium-textured soils, from sandy loams to clay loams. Crested wheatgrass does not grow well in loose sandy soils, heavy clays, or saline soils [84,91]. Crusted soils impede crested wheatgrass seedling emergence [67].

Crested wheatgrass thrives at around 12 to 16 inches (305-406 mm) of precipitation and competes poorly with other grasses on moister sites [24,63,105]. In Utah, crested wheatgrass appears on sites with precipitation of at least 12 inches (300 mm) [115].

Crested wheatgrass appears in the following elevations:

State     Elevation, in feet (m)
WY        above 6,000 (1800) [13]
UT        2,730 to 9,040 (910-2740) [115]
CA        1,900 to 5,000 (600-1500) [54]
CO        5,000 (1,500) [52]
Crested wheatgrass is more competitive on mesic sites than desert wheatgrass, and desert wheatgrass competes better on more xeric sites than crested wheatgrass [38].
 

SUCCESSIONAL STATUS:

Due to the broad range of habitat types in which crested wheatgrass has been planted, reports conflict on the plant's persistence. Crested wheatgrass is persistent and allows little establishment of native species in some habitat types, especially in arid and heavily grazed areas [2]. A crested wheatgrass community in southeastern Alberta was determined to be over 40 years old, and in central North Dakota, northern Arizona, and southern Idaho, stands over 30 years old have been identified [68].

However, shrub re-invasion of crested wheatgrass occurs in the Intermountain West, especially in wet years. Unkilled mature sagebrush in the seeded area is a source of reinvasion [87]. In the arid shadscale (Atriplex spp.) zone of Utah and Nevada, stands of crested wheatgrass appear to be shorter lived, with an estimated 10-year life span [18]. Anderson and Marlette [4] point out that the age of these stands may reflect the available data, and not the potential for stand longevity. They suggest that crested wheatgrass may inhibit or preclude the re-establishment of native species on disturbed sites and may become the dominant species.

In laboratory trials, volatile substances and aqueous extracts from the leaves of big sagebrush exhibited allelopathic, inhibitory effects on germination and shoot and radicle growth of crested wheatgrass seedlings [50]. However, simultaneous establishment of both sagebrush and crested wheatgrass favors the grass [17].

Crested wheatgrass has limited ability to invade undisturbed shortgrass communities in northeastern Colorado and was an unimportant component in the recovery, after 53 years, of old fields [28].

SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Crested wheatgrass greens up 2 to 4 weeks earlier than native bunchgrass species. It goes dormant in the summer, but if soil moisture is available, it will grow again in the fall. In Alberta, at the northern end of the plant's range, seasonal development was as follows [85]:

stage of maturity     sample date
preflower              5/10
heading                6/8
flowering              6/29
seed ripe              7/30
seed shed             10/21

FIRE ECOLOGY

SPECIES: Agropyron cristatum
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS:

Crested wheatgrass burns quickly and is therefore less susceptible to fire damage than some bunchgrass species [32]. In especially thick bunchgrasses, the fire may stay longer in the culms, resulting in heat transfer to the ground and the death of the plant. In crested wheatgrass, there is usually little heat transfer into the soil, so the tillers and root system are usually undamaged [107].

POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY:

Tussock graminoid


FIRE EFFECTS

SPECIES: Agropyron cristatum
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT:

Fire usually burns crested wheatgrass aboveground but underground parts survive [79].

DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT:

No entry

PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE:

Researchers characterize crested wheatgrass as "slightly damaged" [97] or "undamaged" by prescribed fire [93,119], since coarse stems and sparse leafy parts inhibit heat transfer down into the culms or soil. Young [119] says postfire recovery is rapid.

Crested wheatgrass in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming occurs in low flammability growth habitats, and its deep underground tillers help it to survive fire. Crested wheatgrass growth may be favored by late summer fire, but spring fire can decrease yields for several years [21].

Crested wheatgrass can be used as a "greenstrip" or fuelbreak in semi-arid rangelands to help control wildfire [49]. It is moderately flammable, produces moderate litter, has an extensive range, competes well, and is a good sprouter. A mature stand of crested wheatgrass can help control annual grassland fires like those found in sites now invaded by cheatgrass throughout the arid West, particularly in sagebrush-steppe habitats [90,94].

A study at Experimental Farm, Swift Current, Saskatchewan, investigated the effects of spring and fall burns on crested wheatgrass pastures. The spring burn occurred while the grass was growing vigorously, and forage yield and domestic sheep consumption on the pasture were reduced for the following 2 years. The grass was dormant during the fall burn, which took place during November. Although forage yield was reduced in the following year, sheep consumption was not. Lodge [79] concluded the fall burning of crested wheatgrass reinvigorated the stand.

DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE:

No entry

FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

Haws and Bohart [53] studied infestation of monoculture crested wheatgrass stands with black grass bugs in Utah. They conclude that the bugs decrease regeneration by eating the grass seed, but that since the grass bug eggs are inserted in the stem of the grass, they can easily be destroyed by burning. Burning in the fall destroyed most eggs and depressed the bug population for several years.


Agropyron cristatum: References


1. Aguirre, Lucrecia; Johnson, Douglas A. 1991. Influence of temperature and cheatgrass competition on seedling development of two bunchgrasses. Journal of Range Management. 44(4): 347-354. [15368]
2. Allen, Edith B.; Jackson, Laura L. 1992. The arid West. Restoration & Management Notes. 10(1): 56-59. [19477]
3. Anderson, E. William; Brooks, Lee E. 1975. Reducing erosion hazard on a burned forest in Oregon by seeding. Journal of Range Management. 28(5): 394-398. [12807]
4. Anderson, Jay E.; Marlette, Guy M. 1986. Probabilities of seedling recruitment and the stability of crested wheatgrass stands. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 97-105. [321]
5. Asay, K. H. 1983. Promising new grasses for range seedings. In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Shaw, Nancy, compilers, Managing Intermountain rangelands--improvement of range and wildlife habitats: Proceedings of symposia; 1981 September 15-17; Twin Falls, ID; 1982 June 22-24; Elko, NV. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-157. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 110-115. [356]
6. Asay, K. H.; Knowles, R. P. 1985. Current status and future of introduced wheatgrasses and wildrye for rangeland improvement. In: Carlson, Jack R.; McArthur, E. Durant, chairmen. Range plant improvement in western North America: Proceedings of a symposium at the annual meeting of the Society for Range Management; 1985 February 14; Salt Lake City, UT. Denver, CO: Society for Range Management: 1-8. [4377]
7. Ashby, William C.; Hellmers, Henry. 1955. Temperature requirements for germination in relation to wild-land seeding. Journal of Range Management. 8: 80-83. [25198]
8. Astroth, Kirk A.; Frischknecht, Neil C. 1984. Managing Intermountain rangelands--research on the Benmore Experimental Range, 1940-84. Gen. Tech, Rep. INT-175. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 44 p. [361]
9. Austin, D. D.; Urness, P. J. 1983. Overwinter forage selection by mule deer on seeded big sagebrush-grass range. Journal of Wildlife Management. 47(4): 1203-1207. [28448]
10. Bakker, Jonathan D.; Christian, Janice, Wilson, Scott D.; Waddington, John. 1997. Seeding blue grama in old crested wheatgrass fields in southwestern Saskatchewan. Journal of Range Management. 50(2): 156-159. [27451]
11. Barkworth, Mary E.; Dewey, Douglas R. 1985. Genomically based genera in the perennial Triticeae of North America: identification and membership. American Journal of Botany. 72(5): 767-776. [393]
12. Bassiri, M.; Wilson, A. M.; Grami, B. 1988. Root excision and dehydration effects on water uptake in four range species. Journal of Range Management. 41(5): 378-382. [6110]
13. Beetle, Alan A. 1955. Wheatgrasses of Wyoming. Bull. 336. Laramie, WY: Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station. 24 p. [415]
14. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p. [434]
15. Berube, Denis E.; Myers, Judith H. 1982. Suppression of knapweed invasion by crested wheatgrass in the dry interior of British Columbia. Journal of Range Management. 35(4): 459-461. [24376]
16. Bills, Jack E.; Hauff, Richard T.; Barker, Paul; [and others], approved by. 1981. Elk habitat relationships of central Idaho. Unpublished report compiled by: U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and University of Idaho. 57 p. [16521]
17. Blaisdell, James P. 1949. Competition between sagebrush seedlings and reseeded grasses. Ecology. 30(4): 512-519. [461]
18. Bleak, A. T.; Frischknecht, N. C.; Plummer, A. Perry; Eckert, R. E., Jr. 1965. Problems in artificial and natural revegetation of the arid shadscale vegetation zone of Utah and Nevada. Journal of Range Management. 18: 59-65. [3992]
19. Bleak, A. T.; Plummer, A. Perry. 1954. Grazing crested wheatgrass by sheep. Journal of Range Management. 7: 63-68. [4591]
20. Boltz, Mike; Jones, Chuck; Green, Galen; Johansen, Jim. 1987. Jarbridge Resource Area: normal year fire rehab plan; greenstripping plan; sagebrush management plan. Boise, ID: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office. 179 p. [483]
21. Bradley, Anne F.; Noste, Nonan V.; Fischer, William C. 1992. Fire ecology of forests and woodlands of Utah. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-287. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 128 p. [18212]
22. Bridges, J. O. 1942. Reseeding practices for New Mexico ranges. Bull. 291. Las Cruces, NM: New Mexico State University, Agricultural Experiment Station. 48 p. [5204]
23. Brown, John C.; Evans, Raymond A.; Young, James A. 1985. Effects of sagebrush control methods and seeding on runoff and erosion. Journal of Range Management. 38(3): 195-199. [545]
24. Carlson, J. R.; Schwendiman, J. L. 1986. Plant materials for crested wheatgrass seedings in the Intermountain West. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 October 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 45-52. [601]
25. Casterline & Sons Seeds Inc. [n.d.]. Range plants for the High Plains and Rocky Mountain region. Dodge City, KS: Casterline Seeds. 23 p. [18386]
26. Clark, M. B.; McLean, A. 1979. Growth of lodgepole pine seedlings in competition with grass. Res. Note No. 86. Victoria, BC: Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Forests, Research Branch. 12 p. [15610]
27. Clements, Charlie D.; Young, James A. 1997. A viewpoint: rangeland health and mule deer habitat. Journal of Range Management. 50(2): 129-138. [28429]
28. Coffin, Debra P.; Lauenroth, William K.; Burke, Ingrid C. 1996. Recovery of vegetation in a semiarid grassland 53 years after disturbance. Ecological Applications. 6(2): 538-555. [28426]
29. Cook, C. Wayne. 1965. Grass seedling response to halogeton competition. Journal of Range Management. 18: 317-321. [3203]
30. Cronquist, Arthur; Holmgren, Arthur H.; Holmgren, Noel H.; [and others]. 1977. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 6. The Monocotyledons. New York: Columbia University Press. 584 p. [719]
31. Day, A. D.; Ludeke, K. L. 1986. Reclamation and fertilization of coal mine soils in the Southwestern desert. Desert Plants. 8(1): 20-22. [3457]
32. DePuit, Edward J. 1986. The role of crested wheatgrass in reclamation of drastically disturbed lands. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 323-330. [777]
33. Dewey, Douglas R. 1983. Historical and current taxonomic perspectives of Agropyron, Elymus, and related genera. Crop Science. 23: 637-642. [793]
34. Dewey, Douglas R. 1986. Taxonomy of the crested wheatgrasses (Agropyron). In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University; 1986: 31-41. [795]
35. Dillman, A. C. 1946. The beginnings of crested wheatgrass in North America. Journal of the American Society of Agronomy. 38(3): 237-250. [29177]
36. Dormaar, Johan F.; Naeth, M. Anne; Willms, Walter D.; Chanasyk, David S. 1995. Effect of native prairie, crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) and Russian wildrye (Elymus junceus) on soil chemical properties. Journal of Range Management. 48(3): 258-263. [26521]
37. Dusek, G. L. 1975. Vegetational responses by substrate, gradient, and aspect on a twelve acre test plot in the Bull Mountains. In: Clark, W. F., ed. Proceedings of the Fort Union Coal Field symposium; [Date unknown]; [Location unknown]. Billings, MT: Montana Academy of Sciences: 233-246. [21509]
38. Eckert, Richard E., Jr.; Bleak, A. T.; Robertson, Jos. H.; Naphan, E. A. 1961. Responses of Agropyron cristatum, A. desertorum, and other range grasses to three different sites in eastern Nevada. Ecology. 42(4): 775-783. [5185]
39. Etter, Harold M. 1973. Mined-land reclamation studies on bighorn sheep range in Alberta, Canada. Biological Conservation. 5(3): 191-195. [13731]
40. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
41. Fielding, Dennis J.; Brusven, Merlyn A. 1994. Grasshopper community responses to shrub loss, annual grasslands, and crested wheatgrass seedlings: management implications. In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Kitchen, Stanley G., compilers. Proceedings--ecology and management of annual rangelands; 1992 May 18-22; Boise, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-313. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 162-166. [24273]
42. Francis, Mark G.; Pyke, David A. 1996. Crested wheatgrass-cheatgrass seedling competition in a mixed-density design. Journal of Range Management. 49(5): 432-438. [27148]
43. Francis, Richard E. 1986. Phyto-edaphic communities of the Upper Rio Puerco Watershed, New Mexico. Res. Pap. RM-272. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 73 p. [954]
44. Frischknecht, Neil C. 1965. Deer mice on crested wheatgrass range. Journal of Mammalogy. 46(3): 529-530. [972]
45. Frischknecht, Neil C. 1968. Factors influencing halogeton invasion of crested wheatgrass range. Journal of Range Management. 21: 8-12. [5319]
46. Gade, A. E.; Provenza, F. D. 1986. Nutrition of sheep grazing crested wheatgrass versus crested wheatgrass-shrub pastures during winter. Journal of Range Management. 39(6): 527-530. [3710]
47. Ganskopp, D.; Myers, B.; Lambert, S. 1993. Black-tailed jackrabbit preferences for eight forages used for reclamation of Great Basin rangelands. Northwest Science. 67(4): 246-250. [25024]
48. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others]. 1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]
49. Green, Lisle R. 1977. Fuelbreaks and other fuel modifications for wildland fire control. Agric. Handb. 499. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 79 p. [10511]
50. Groves, Craig R.; Anderson, Jay E. 1981. Allelopathic effects of Artemisia tridentata leaves on germination and growth of two grass species. The American Midland Naturalist. 106(1): 73-79. [16926]
51. Hardy BBT Limited. 1989. Manual of plant species suitability for reclamation in Alberta. 2d ed. Report No. RRTAC 89-4. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Land Conservation and Reclamation Council. 436 p. [15460]
52. Harrington, H. D. 1964. Manual of the plants of Colorado. 2d ed. Chicago: The Swallow Press Inc. 666 p. [6851]
53. Haws, B. Austin; Bohart, George E. 1986. Black grass bugs (Labops herperius) Uhler (Hemiptera: Miridae) and other insects in relation to crested wheatgrass. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University; 1986: 123-145. [1107]
54. Hickman, James C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1400 p. [21992]
55. Hironaka, Minoru. 1986. Piemeisel exclosures. Rangelands. 8(5): 221-223. [1157]
56. Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur; Ownbey, Marion. 1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 1: Vascular cryptograms, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 914 p. [1169]
57. Holechek, Jerry L. 1981. Brush control impacts on rangeland wildlife. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 36(5): 265-269. [1182]
58. Holmgren, Ralph C.; Basile, Joseph V. 1959. Improving southern Idaho deer winter ranges by artificial revegetation. Wildlife Bulletin No. 3. Boise, ID: State of Idaho, Department of Fish and Game. 41 p. [16585]
59. Holzworth, Larry; Lacey, John. 1993. Species selection criteria for seeding dryland pastures in Montana. Extension Bulletin 19. Bozeman, MT: Montana State Univeristy, Extension Service. 12 p. [21134]
60. Hoover, Max M.; Hein, M. A.; Dayton, William A.; Erlanson, C. O. 1948. The main grasses for farm and home. In: Grass: The yearbook of agriculture 1948. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture: 639-700. [1190]
61. Hopkins, William E.; Kovalchik, Bernard L. 1983. Plant associations of the Crooked River National Grassland. R6 Ecol 133-1983. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 98 p. [1193]
62. Hull, A. C., Jr. 1971. Grass mixtures for seeding sagebrush lands. Journal of Range Management. 24: 150-152. [1209]
63. Hull, A. C., Jr. 1974. Species for seeding arid rangeland in southern Idaho. Journal of Range Management. 27(3): 216-218. [2891]
64. Hull, A. C., Jr.; Johnson, W. M. 1955. Range seeding in the ponderosa pine zone in Colorado. Circular 953. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 40 p. [20356]
65. Hungerford, C. R. 1970. Response of Kaibab mule deer to management of summer range. Journal of Wildlife Management. 34(40): 852-862. [1219]
66. Ihli, Mike; Sherbenou, Phil; Welch, C. W. 1973. Wintering sage grouse in the upper Big Lost River. Transactions, Idaho Academy of Sciences. ?: 73-80. [8091]
67. Johnson, Douglas A. 1986. Seed and seedling relations of crested wheatgrass: a review. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 65-90. [1277]
68. Johnson, Kendall L. 1986. The social values of crested wheatgrass: pros, cons and tradeoffs. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 331-335. [1283]
69. Keating, Kimberly A.; Irby, Lynn R.; Kasworm, Wayne F. 1985. Mountain sheep winter food habits in the upper Yellowstone Valley. Journal of Wildlife Management. 49(1): 156-161. [15521]
70. Kindschy, Robert R.; Sundstrom, Charles; Yoakum, James D. 1982. Wildlife habitats in managed rangelands--The Great Basin of southeastern Oregon: Pronghorns. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-145. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 18 p. [9496]
71. Klomp, G. J.; Hull, A. C., Jr. 1972. Methods for seeding three perennial wheatgrasses on cheatgrass ranges in southern Idaho. Journal of Range Management. 25: 266-268. [1354]
72. Koehler, David K.; Anderson, Stanley H. 1991. Habitat use and food selection of small mammals near a sagebrush/crested wheatgrass interface in southeastern Idaho. The Great Basin Naturalist. 51(3): 249-255. [16868]
73. Kuchler, A. W. 1964. United States [Potential natural vegetation of the conterminous United States]. Special Publication No. 36. New York: American Geographical Society. 1:3,168,000; colored. [3455]
74. Kufeld, Roland C. 1973. Foods eaten by the Rocky Mountain elk. Journal of Range Management. 26(2): 106-113. [1385]
75. Lavin, Fred. 1953. Guide for reseeding burned and logged-over ponderosa pine lands in the Southwest. Res. Rep. No. 10. Tucson, AZ: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Forest and Range Experiment Station. 11 p. [15549]
76. Laycock, W. A.; Conrad, P. W. 1981. Responses of vegetation and cattle to various systems of grazing on seeded and native mountain rangelands in eastern Utah. Journal of Range Management. 34(1): 52-58. [6261]
77. Leckenby, Donavin A. 1978. Mule deer occupancy of plant communities on a south-central Oregon winter range. Job Final Rep. Res. Proj. Seg. W-70-R. Portland, OR: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 78 p. [12496]
78. Lesica, Peter; DeLuca, Thomas H. 1996. Long-term harmful effects of crested wheatgrass on Great Plains grassland ecosystems. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 51(5): 408-409. [27722]
79. Lodge, Robert W. 1960. Effects of burning, cultivating, and mowing on the yield and consumption of crested wheatgrass. Journal of Range Management. 13: 318-321. [1466]
80. Love, L. Dudley; Hanson, Herbert C. 1932. Life history and habits of crested wheatgrass. Journal of Agricultural Research. 45(6): 371-383. [139]
81. Mackie, Richard J. 1970. Range ecology and relations of mule deer, elk, and cattle in the Missouri River Breaks, Montana. Wildlife Monographs No. 20. 79 p. [5897]
82. Malechek, John C. 1986. Nutritional limits of crested wheatgrass for range livestock production. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 267-272. [1518]
83. Marlette, Guy M.; Anderson, Jay E. 1986. Seed banks and propagule dispersal in crested-wheatgrass stands. Journal of Applied Ecology. 23: 161-175. [1526]
84. Mathews, William L. 1986. Early use of crested wheatgrass seedings in halogeton control. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 27-28. [1551]
85. Mayland, H. F. 1986. Factors affecting yield and nutritional quality of crested wheatgrass. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 215-266. [1557]
86. Mayland, H. F.; Asay, K. H.; Clark, D. H. 1992. Seasonal trends in herbage yield and quality of Agropyrons. Journal of Range Management. 45(4): 369-374. [18812]
87. McAdoo, J. Kent; Evans, Raymond A.; Longland, William S. 1986. Nongame bird responses to type conversion of sagebrush communities. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 155-162. [1561]
88. McCarty, Robert S., Jr. 1982. Little Lost/Birch Creek antelope habitat management plan. In: Proceedings, 10th pronghorn antelope workshop; 1982 April 5-7; Dickinson, ND. [Place of publication unknown]: [Publisher unknown]: 229-245. [25688]
89. Miller, Richard F. 1986. Response of cool season grasses to grazing. In: Tiedeman, James A., ed. Short duration grazing: Proceedings of the short duration grazing and current issues in grazing management shortcourse; 1986 January 21-23; Kennewick, WA. Pullman, WA: Washington State University, Cooperative Extension: 159-164. [1651]
90. Monsen, Stephen B. 1994. Selection of plants for fire suppression on semiarid sites. In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Kitchen, Stanley G., compilers. Proceedings--ecology and management of annual rangelands; 1992 May 18-22; Boise, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-313. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 363-373. [24310]
91. Mosley, Jeffrey C.; Sanders, Kenneth D.; Spaulding, Mathew V. 1993. We're on the rangelands...Can crested wheatgrass survive prolonged drought? Focus on Renewable Resources. 18: 4. [29159]
92. Parmenter, Robert R.; MacMahon, James A.; Waaland, Marco E.; [and others]. 1985. Reclamation of surface coal mines in western Wyoming for wildlife habitat: a preliminary analysis. Reclamation and Revegetation Research. 4: 93-115. [1818]
93. Pechanec, Joseph F.; Stewart, George; Blaisdell, James P. 1954. Sagebrush burning good and bad. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1948. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 34 p. [1859]
94. Pellant, Mike. 1994. History and applications of the Intermountain greenstripping program. In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Kitchen, Stanley G., compilers. Proceedings--ecology and management of annual rangelands; 1992 May 18-22; Boise, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-313. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 63-68. [24254]
95. Plummer, A. Perry; Christensen, Donald R.; Monsen, Stephen B. 1968. Restoring big-game range in Utah. Publ. No. 68-3. Ephraim, UT: Utah Division of Fish and Game. 183 p. [4554]
96. Popovich, Steve J.; Pyke, David A. 1997. Impacts of wildfire rehabilitation and plow-and-seed land treatments on fitness parameters of an endemic milkvetch. In: Greenlee, Jason M., ed. Proceedings, 1st conference on fire effects on rare and endangered species and habitats; 1995 November 13-16; Coeur d'Alene, ID. Fairfield, WA: International Association of Wildland Fire: 27-36. [28120]
97. Ralphs, Michael H.; Schen, David C.; Busby, Fee. 1975. Prescribed burning--effective control of sagebrush and open juniper. Utah Science. 36(3): 94-98. [1931]
98. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
99. Redente, E. F.; McLendon, T.; Agnew, W. 1997. Influence of topsoil depth on plant community dynamics of a seeded site in northwest Colorado. Arid Soil Research and Rehabilitation. 11: 139-149. [27751]
100. Reynolds, Timothy D. 1978. The response of native vertebrate populations to different land management practices on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Site. In: Markham, O. D., ed. Ecological studies on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Site: 1978 Progress Report. IDO-12087. Idaho Falls, ID: U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Sciences Branch, Radiological and Envirnomental Sciences Lab: 171-188. [1961]
101. Reynolds, Timothy D. 1980. Effects of some different land management practices on small mammal populations. Journal of Mammalogy. 61(3): 558-561. [1962]
102. Robertson, J. H.; Neal, D. L.; McAdams, K. R.; Tueller, P. T. 1970. Changes in crested wheatgrass ranges under different grazing treatments. Journal of Range Management. 23: 27-34. [2005]
103. Robertson, Joseph H.; Pearse, C. Kenneth. 1945. Artificial reseeding and the closed community. Northwest Science. 59(3): 58-66. [2012]
104. Rummell, Robert S. 1946. Some effects of competition from cheatgrass brome on crested wheatgrass and bluestem wheatgrass. Ecology. 27(2): 159-167. [2043]
105. Shiflet, Thomas N., ed. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Denver, CO: Society for Range Management. 152 p. [23362]
106. Sime, Carolyn Anne. 1991. Sage grouse use of burned, non-burned, and seeded vegetation communities on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 72 p. Thesis. [24908]
107. Skinner, Nancy G.; Wakimoto, Ronald H. 1989. Site preparation for rangeland grass planting--a literature review. In: Baumgartner, David M.; Breuer, David W.; Zamora, Benjamin A.; [and others], compilers. Prescribed fire in the Intermountain region: Symposium proceedings; 1986 March 3-5; Spokane, WA. Pullman, WA: Washington State University, Cooperative Extension: 125-131. [11259]
108. Stickney, Peter F. 1989. Seral origin of species originating in northern Rocky Mountain forests. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT; RWU 4403 files. 10 p. [20090]
109. Thorne, Wendy E. Roberts; Revel, Richard D. 1989. The application of germination tests to revegetation of phospho-gypsum tailings: preliminary findings. In: Walker, D. G.; Powter, C. B.; Pole, M. W., compilers. Reclamation, a global perspective: Proceedings of the conference; 1989 August 27-31; Calgary, AB. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Land Conservation and Reclamation Council: 363-372. [14346]
110. Torell, L. Allen; Godgrey, E. Bruce. 1986. The optimum retreatment schedule for established crested wheatgrass stands. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 Oct. 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 281-285. [2353]
111. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1994. Plants of the U.S.--alphabetical listing. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 954 p. [23104]
112. Urness, Philip J. 1986. Value of crested wheatgrass for big game. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Crested wheatgrass: its values, problems and myths: Symposium proceedings; 1983 October 3-7; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University: 147-153. [2406]
113. Urness, Philip Joel. 1966. Influence of range improvement practices on composition, production, and utilization of Artemisia deer winter range in central Oregon. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University. 182 p. Dissertation. [3060]
114. Weber, William A.; Wittmann, Ronald C. 1996. Colorado flora: eastern slope. 2nd ed. Nowot, CO: University Press of Colorado. 524 p. [27572]
115. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. The Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
116. Wiens, J. A.; Rotenberry, J. T. 1985. Response of breeding passerine birds to rangeland alteration in a North American shrubsteppe locality. Journal of Applied Ecology. 22: 655-668. [6139]
117. Wilson, Scott D. 1989. The suppression of native prairie by alien species introduced for revegetation. Landscape and Urban Planning. 17: 113-119. [6811]
118. Yoakum, J. D.; O'Gara, B. W.; Howard, V. W., Jr. 1996. Pronghorn on western rangelands. In: Krausman, Paul R., ed. Rangeland wildlife. Denver, CO: The Society for Range Management: 211-226. [27317]
119. Young, Richard P. 1983. Fire as a vegetation management tool in rangelands of the Intermountain Region. In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Shaw, Nancy, compilers. Managing Intermountain rangelands--improvement of range and wildlife habitats: Proceedings; 1981 September 15-17; Twin Falls, ID; 1982 June 22-24; Elko, NV. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-157. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 18-31. [2681]

FEIS Home Page
https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/graminoid/agrcri/all.html