Native Prairie Restoration within Old World Bluestem AMANDA LIGHTSEY
DR. FRED SMEINS ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE & MANAGEMENT DEPT. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Project Objectives
Re-establishment of native grass impossible without addressing problematic and aggressive invasive exotic species, such as:
Kleberg bluestem (Dichanthium annulatum)
King Ranch bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum).
Hypothesis
Kleberg and King Ranch bluestem are not overly tolerant of shade
Total removal of established Kleberg & King Ranch, over-seeding to reintroduce natives.
Plant robust, high biomass natives such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) to create shade, over-seed to reintroduce natives
Pre-treatment observations Relative Frequency 8% 14%
8%
70%
Grass
Grasslike
Forb
Woody
Pre-treatment observations
Grass Species Composition 14%
20% 66%
OWBS
CYDA
other spp.
Treatment Plan
7 treatments x 4 reps= 28 plots Shred
No Glyphosate
Control
Switchgrass only (shade)
Glyphosate
Direct native seeding
Native Seeding
Switchgrass
Summer cover crop/ Fall native seeding
Fall cover crop/ Spring native seeding
Spraying and Seeding
Research continues…..
Utmost Appreciation to
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Memorial Park Conservancy
Wildlife Habitat Federation
Garry Stephens
Kenneth Blezinger
Fellow Texas A&M University Researchers:
Xavier Jamie
Cassidy Ince
Deseri Nally
Amy Thompson