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Rangeland Weed Management - Introduction

Key Points

1. Revegetation as a weed management strategy is recommended in areas that experienced a high-severity burn or have inadequate desired vegetation cover regardless of burn severity.

2. However, to avoid suppressing the native plant community, burned areas with adequate desired plants should not be revegetated.

3. Preventing noxious weeds from establishing in the first place is the most effective and least costly method of weed management. This section covers actions that can reduce the dispersal of weed seeds.

4. If weed infestations have developed, shifting the balance from weeds to desired vegetation, can be accomplished through combinations of mechanical, chemical, cultural (including revegetation) or biological methods.
By Kim Goodwin, Project Specialist, Rangeland Weeds, Montana State University.

 

 


Many kinds of native plants will survive and reinitiate growth soon after a fire. The ability of these plants to reestablish, thrive and reseed in subsequent years will be reduced by the presence of noxious weeds. Unfortunately, noxious weeds can thrive in recently burned areas. Fires expose ground surfaces, reduce shade and increase light, and create a flush of nutrients. All of these conditions favor weeds. Wildlife habitat, livestock grazing, watershed stability and water quality may be compromised. Large-scale infestations of noxious weeds are difficult, and costly, to manage.

The purpose of this section is to describe practical and proven weed management methods that may be incorporated into a successful burned area noxious weed management plan.