Broom snakeweed (snakeweed) is an aggressive native range-weed found throughout arid and semiarid areas of the western United States, that increases following disturbances such as overgrazing, drought, or wildfire. Ecologically based strategies that include controlling snakeweed and reestablishing desirable herbaceous species are needed to restore productivity and diversity to invaded areas. The objective of this study was to compare the ability of selected introduced and native grass species and prostrate kochia (kochia) to prevent reinvasion of snakeweed, downy brome, and annual forbs following control. This field study was replicated at two sites (Howell and Nephi, Utah) within the sagebrush-steppe biome. Snakeweed and downy brome were controlled by picloram (0.25 kg/ha [0.22 lb/ac]) and glyphosate (1.5 kg/ha [1.3 lb/ac]). The seeding treatments were comprised of three introduced grasses and a mix of these species, three native grasses and a mix of these species, and kochia. The treatments were seeded into 3 by 15-m (10 by 50 ft) plots in October 2003. Frequency and biomass of seeded species, snakeweed, downy brome, other grasses, and annual forbs were measured in 2004, 2005, and 2008. Seeded species were evaluated for success of establishment and persistence, and their ability to restrict reinvasion of snakeweed, downy brome, and annual forbs. Crested wheatgrass and big squirreltail had the best initial establishment at both locations (> 75%). In contrast, kochia and Russian wildrye did not establish well at either site, and western wheatgrass did not establish well at Nephi. Snakeweed reestablishment was restricted in all treatments except the kochia treatments, in which kochia did not establish well. Frequency of downy brome increased at both sites, and annual forb frequency increased at Nephi to near 100%, but the better established grasses suppressed biomass production of these weedy species. Crested wheatgrass established best, had the greatest production, and provided greatest suppression of downy brome and annual weeds.

Broom snakeweed (snakeweed) is a native range shrub found throughout semiarid rangelands of the western United States, which increases and dominates plant communities after disturbances such as overgrazing, drought, or wildfire. The objective of this study was to compare the ability of selected grass species and prostrate kochia to restrict establishment and growth of snakeweed seedlings in potted-plant and replicated field studies within two sagebrush ecological sites. In the potted-plant studies, single snakeweed seedlings were grown with seedlings (seedling neighbor study) and established plants (established neighbor study) of three cool-season grasses (crested, pubescent, and bluebunch wheatgrass), prostrate kochia, and snakeweed at increasing densities (1, 3, 5 plants/pot). Interference from crested wheatgrass in the seedling neighbor study, and both crested and bluebunch wheatgrass in the established neighbor study, induced the greatest mortality of snakeweed seedlings, and snakeweed growth was suppressed more by interspecific (grass) than intraspecific (snakeweed) neighbors in both potted-plant studies. Snakeweed establishment was also evaluated at two field sites: Howell and Nephi, UT. Snakeweed and downy brome were controlled by picloram (0.25 kg ae/ha) and glyphosate (1.5 kg ae/ha), then three native and three introduced grasses were drill-seeded, and prostrate kochia was dribble-seeded in replicated plots (3 m by 15 m) at both sites in October 2003. Snakeweed seedlings were transplanted into seeded plots and a bare ground control plot in autumn 2004. Snakeweed mortality was greatest (73%) in crested wheatgrass plots at Howell, but there were few differences among species treatments at Nephi. Of the snakeweed seedlings that survived, there was relatively little growth in any of the seeded plots compared to those in the bare ground control plots. These results indicate that seeded cool-season grasses interfered with and reduced establishment of snakeweed seedlings.