Date of Award:

5-1953

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Department name when degree awarded

Range Management

Committee Chair(s)

L. A. Stoddart

Committee

L. A. Stoddart

Committee

C. Wayne Cook

Abstract

Rehabilitation of deteriorated and abused range lands is being accomplished with greater success each year by the aid of better methods of seeding which include seedbed preparation, intensities of seeding, implements for planting and improved methods of eliminating competition. Much more information is needed, however, in order to recommend suitable methods and species for seeding various vegetation types and sones with reasonable reliability. Throughout the arid and semi-arid range lands, moisture is the principal factor limiting satisfactory seedling establishment. Special attention should therefore be given to more efficient utilization of the moisture supply. Closely related species or species with similar growth characteristics are said to compete more for water, for space and for nutrients; therefore, studies dealing with the effect of spacing and intensity of seeding upon seedling establishment are of paramount importance.

Available water supply can be most effectively used by increasing water absorption of the soil, storing moisture in the soil one year for use the next and preventing soil moisture loss. Increased water absorption of the soil can be accomplished by tillage of the soil and preventing runoff losses. Summer-fallowing is a means of storing water and preventing moisture losses through evaporation and transpiration.

Slight changes in the amount of available water, or in the efficiency of its use, may bring about success instead of failure in the arid regions of the West. Thus, an important aspect is the density of the seeded species during the initial stages of establishment since spacing and intensity of seeding are principal factors determining competition of subsequent stands. Treatment differences are best observed when the supply of available moisture is near the critical point, otherwise, when the supply of moisture is plentiful or short, differences are not apparent and appear unimportant.

Because of the limited knowledge dealing with effect of intensity of seeding and drill row spacing upon subsequent grass stands, a study was conducted during the years 1950-52 on foothill range land in central Utah. For species of wheatgrass (Agropyron) were used in the study. The three recently introduced species, intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium), stiffhair wheatgrass (A. trichophorum), and tall wheatgrass (A. elongatum), were compared to the performance of crested wheatgrass (A. oristatum). The species were seeded in a randomized block in all combinations of the following treatments: spring and fall seeding, 3 intensities of seeding, and 3 different spacings between drill rows.

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