Increased fire frequency, livestock grazing and other disturbances have caused type-conversion of native chaparral to non-native annual grasslands. Competition with non-native annual grasses hinders shrub establishment, presenting challenges in restoration. This study examined the feasibility of chaparral restoration in a Mediterranean-type climate, on a type-converted landscape in San Timoteo Canyon, Riverside County, California. The objectives of this study were to (1) compare the effectiveness of the broad-spectrum herbicide, glyphosate, to that of the grass specific herbicide, fluazifop, at eliminating non-native annual grasses; (2) compare the success of seeding or planting native seedlings as a means of restoration; (3) analyze the soil seed bank to determine if there was a relict native species seed bank on site; (4) test the field application of smoke-water as a technique to manipulate the soil’s native shrub seed-bank for restoration. A factorial design was utilized, with three replicates: four restoration treatments (no restoration, smoke-water application, seeding, and planting seedlings) across three herbicide treatments (a January glyphosate application followed by an early-March fluazifop treatment, an early-March fluazifop treatment only, and a control treatment with no herbicide). Glyphosate application followed by fluazifop application proved to be more effective at reducing non-native annual grasses and benefitted shrub establishment more effectively than the fluazifop and control treatments. The application of glyphosate in winter promoted shrub establishment and growth, and increased soil moisture, while preventing the springtime increase in grass cover that was seen in the control and fluazifop-only treatments. The four chaparral species that were planted (Adenostoma fasciculatum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Quercus berberidifolia, Rhus ovata) did not behave similarly. No Quercus berberidifolia individuals survived. Eriogonum fasciculatum did not exhibit differences in survival in any herbicide treatments, but exhibited higher live plant canopy volume in plots that received glyphosate with fluazifop follow-up treatments. Adenostoma fasciculatum and Rhus ovata showed higher survival in plots that received glyphosate with fluazifop follow-up treatments; however, neither exhibited differences in live plant canopy volume between herbicide treatments. These results persisted until the end of the study, 14 months after planting. Seed application of seven species (Adenostoma fasciculatum, Artemisia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Quercus berberidifolia, Rhus aromatica, and Rhus ovata) was not successful at this study site. Seed bank analysis revealed that there was a high density of non-native seeds present, and that the relict native shrub seed bank was insufficient for restoration on this site. Smoke-water application at the study site proved to be ineffective at manipulating the soil seed bank, as no chaparral species emerged. Results from this study suggest that winter glyphosate application followed by a fluazifop application in a Mediterranean-type climate may benefit shrub re-establishment more than spring fluazifop-only treatments. Results indicate that winter herbicide treatment will eliminate competitive non-native annual grasses early in the growing season, resulting in increased soil moisture availability for chaparral shrubs to utilize. Winter glyphosate application, supplemented with the planting of seedlings, could be a successful technique to re-establish chaparral shrubs on type-converted slopes.

Summers are expected to continue to increase in heat/dryness in the Northeast, causing issues pertaining to forage production during the summer to worsen. Many pastures grow cool season grasses, even during the summer. These grasses enter a dormant period and slowdown in production during the months of July and August, leading to what is referred to as “summer slump”. Some farms grow corn silage during the summer, and while corn silage is a valuable crop, its cultivation often does not support soil biology. This research addresses solutions for both summer slump foraging and more sustainable silage. Summer annuals grow more efficiently during the summer and can produce better quality forage compared to winter grasses. Pearl Millet and Sudangrass were evaluated at seed percentages 0-100%. Biomass of each grass was evaluated by cutting a 2x3 ft section on a bi-weekly basis to establish how the treatments vary over time by seeding ratio and type of warm-season grass. Two separate cuts evaluated yield, quality, and regrowth. Another cut looked at ensiling success and quality of Pearl millet and Sudangrass. Results showed both forage species had similar and comparable quality to cool-season grasses. With how much more Sudangrass produces in yield and the little difference in forage quality compared to Pearl millet, Sudangrass would make a good replacement for cool-season grasses. Pearl millet and Sudangrass can be ensiled successfully and have competitive forage quality compared to corn silage.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Agricultural Management)) --University of Limpopo, 2004 / Identification of annual grass/legume intercropping or mixtures with superior nutrient traits and Dry matter (DM) production is critical to increasing productivity of the crop and animal production among small-scale farmers in the Limpopo Province. Three similar field experiments were established at different locations in the Province to determine the significance of the contribution of annual summer legumes, and cutting treatments on the nutritive value and dry matter accumulation of the popular forage sorghum (Sorghum spp) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) intercropped with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and dolichos (Lablab purpureus). The cropping systems evaluated were sole sorghum, sole pearl millet, sorghum + cowpea, sorghum + dolichos, pearl millet + cowpea and pearl millet + dolichos. The treatments sole sorghum and pearl millet significantly (P<0.05) outperformed the other treatments in terms of DM production at most cutting stages. The remaining four treatments though, inferior in DM in this study, yielded better than the average yield on farmers' fields in the Province. Higher protein content was obtained in mixtures than in sole cropping, and generally there was lower protein production and content at matured stages (CT3) in the study. The other chemical composition analyzed in the study was not significant for both mixtures and sole cultures.