Other Sagebrush Treatments
Mowing
Mechanical thinning of sagebrush to encourage understory growth is being studied at the SageSTEP sagebrush sites. Sagebrush was mowed to approximately 12-15 inches, while the understory remained primarily in tact.
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Tractor pulling the mower at the Onaqui study site. |
Sagebrush plant after being mowed with un-mowed plants in the background. |
Herbicide
Tebuthiuron (Spike 20P) was applied aerial at all sagebrush study sites to thin the sagebrush and encourage understory growth.
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Aerial application of the tebuthiuron herbicide at the Moses Coulee study site. |
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Imazapic (Plateau) pre-emergent herbicide was crossed with the four main treatments (prescribed fire, tebuthiuron, mowing, and control) on half of the sub-plots at all sagebrush study sites to control cheatgrass. This herbicide is applied by hand and the rate depends on the amount of understory growth on the plot.
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Plateau pre-emergent herbicide being sprayed on the Onaqui sagebrush/cheatgrass burn plot. |
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Mowing and herbicide treatments have been implemented at SageSTEP study sites as follows:
Fall 2008: Hart Mountain - Gray Butte, Moses Coulee, Owyhee, Saddle Mountain
Fall 2007: Hart Mountain - Rock Creek, Roberts
Fall 2006: Onaqui Sage/Cheat