Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is a halophytic, invasive species that displaces Gardner’s saltbush (Atriplex gardneri) on saline rangelands. Forage kochia (Bassia prostrata) is a potential species to rehabilitate these ecosystems. This study compared the salinity tolerance of these species and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Plants were evaluated for 28 days in hydroponics where they were maintained at 0, 150, 200, 300, 400, 600, and 800 mM NaCl. Shoot growth and ion accumulation were determined. Alfalfa and tall wheatgrass were severely affected by salt with both species’ shoot mass just 32% of control at 150 mM NaCl. Alfalfa did not survive above 300 mM NaCl, while, tall wheatgrass did not survive at salt levels above 400 mM NaCl. In contrast, forage kochia survived to 600 mM, but produced little shoot mass at that level. Halogeton exhibited ‘halophytic’ shoot growth, reaching maximum mass at 141 mM, and not less mass than the control until salinity reached 400 mM. Gardner’s saltbush did not show a dramatic decrease in dry mass produced until it reached salt levels of 600 and 800 mM NaCl. Forage kochia yielded high amounts of dry mass in the absence of salt, but also managed to survive up to 600 mM NaCl. Salt tolerance ranking (GR50 = 50% reduction in shoot mass) was Gardner’s saltbush=halogeton>forage kochia> alfalfa>tall wheatgrass. Both halogeton and Gardner’s saltbush actively accumulated sodium in shoots, indicating that Na+ was the principle ion in osmotic adjustment. In contrast, forage kochia exhibited a linear increase (e.g. passive uptake) in Na+ accumulation as salinity increased. This study confirmed that halogeton is a halophytic species and thus well adapted to salt-desert shrubland ecosystems. Gardner’s saltbush, also a halophyte, was equally salt tolerant, suggesting other factors are responsible for halogeton displacement of Gardner’s saltbush. Forage kochia is a halophytic species that can survive salinity equal to seawater, but is not as salt tolerant as Gardner’s saltbush and halogeton.

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) currently occupy an estimated 56% of the potential range-wide pre-European settlement habitat. Population declines have been largely attributed to direct habitat loss and fragmentation related to anthropogenic activities that promote wildfires and the subsequent spread of invasive plants. Vegetation manipulations, including the seeding of plant species, such as forage kochia (Bassia prostrata), have been identified as potential strategies to mitigate the risk of wildfire and enhance sage-grouse habitat in areas at risk to wildfires. I evaluated the composition changes that occurred in a lower elevation sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) plant community within the Grouse Creek Watershed in western Box Elder County, Utah, USA, in response to prescribed vegetation manipulations (green-stripping through chain harrowing, juniper mastication, seeding forage kochia, applying Plateau® herbicide) and studied the effect of these changes on sage-grouse habitat-use patterns and vital rates. I monitored 53 radio-collared sage-grouse throughout the Grouse Creek watershed from 2010-2012. Seasonal movements suggested local individual bird adaptations to annual variations in weather and habitat fragmentation. Sage-grouse selected for untreated areas; however, treated areas were used to expand the size of the lek. Untreated areas exhibited a higher percent composition of shrubs compared to areas that were chain harrowed to prepare a seedbed. Sage-grouse nest success and adult male survival rates during this study were relatively low compared to range-wide population estimates. Nest predation was higher for nests located closer to roads. The forage kochia seeded in the firebreaks emerged the season after seeding (2011). Using microhistological techniques, I detected small quantities of forage kochia in sage-grouse fecal pellets. Nutrient analysis confirmed that forage kochia samples collected from the sites exhibited a high protein content and low secondary metabolite content, similar to black sagebrush (Artemisia nova). Although greenstripping with forage kochia in lower elevation sagebrush communities may prove to be a beneficial technique for protecting rangelands from wildfire and provide a dietary source for wildlife, site preparation should be conducted to minimize the impact on existing sagebrush canopy cover habitats. Long-term monitoring should be implemented to determine extended effects of greenstripping treatments on sagebrush habitat and sage-grouse vital rates. Although individual sage-grouse demonstrated local adaptations to fragmentation and seasonal variations in weather, increased fragmentation and climate change in this part of the Great Basin may increase meta-population extirpation risks inhabiting lower elevation sagebrush areas in the Grouse Creek Watershed.

Gardner saltbush ecosystems are increasingly being invaded by halogeton, a competitive annual weed that increases soil surface salinity and reduces plant biodiversity. This study was established on the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, in the Ashley National Forest near Manila, UT to evaluate the ability of forage kochia, Russian wildrye, tall wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass and Gardner saltbush, in monocultures and binary mixtures with Gardner saltbush, to establish and compete in ecosystems dominated by halogeton. A dormant seeding, with and without prior disking, was conducted to determine the ability of plant materials to establish. A spaced-plant evaluation was used to determine the competitive ability of fully established plants by measuring halogeton densities at four 10 cm intervals (10-20, 20-30, 30-40, and 40-50 cm) distal from transplants. Gardner saltbush, tall wheatgrass, and Indian ricegrass did not establish or persist beyond the first year in either study. Conversely, Russian wildrye and forage kochia established and persisted, with Russian wildrye establishment higher (P ≤ 0.05) in the disked treatment (4.5 and 1.7 plants m-2, respectively) and no-till favoring (P ≤ 0.05) forage kochia establishment (2.0 and 0.8 plants m-2, respectively). Spaced-plants of these species reduced halogeton by 52% relative to the control. Furthermore, by the second year of evaluation, the competitive ability of Russian wildrye and forage kochia had extended to 50 cm distal from transplant. Transplant survival and halogeton frequency were highly correlated (r = -0.67, P = 0.0001), indicating the important of persistence. These results suggest that Russian wildrye and forage kochia can establish, persist, and compete with halogeton, thereby providing an opportunity for reclamation of halogeton-invaded areas. Conversely, direct restoration to Gardner saltbush and Indian ricegrass does not appear likely

Several experimental lines of forage kochia [Kochia prostrata (L. Shrad.)] have potential to provide taller forage on fall and winter rangelands than the only released variety of forage kochia, Immigrant. This study was conducted to determine differences in cattle utilization among experimental lines of forage kochia and relate them to forage quality and morphological attributes. The utilization of forage kochia was also compared to 'Ladak ' alfalfa [Medicago saliva (L.)] and two entries of winterfat [Krashnennikovia species (Guldenstaedt)]. Cattle utilization was determined by calculating a biomass consumed value and a percent biomass consumed value. Dry weights for each plant were taken after grazing and subtracted from a pre-grazing dry weight (predicted using a quadratic regression equation) that produced the biomass consumed value. The percent consumed value was calculated by dividing biomass consumed by pre-grazing dry weight. Ocularly estimated utilization scores (OU) were also used to measure utilization. Forage quality traits were analyzed on each entry using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Morphologic and phenological characteristics potentially related to utilization were made by physical measurements and visual evaluations. There were significant differences among forage kochia accessions for all traits evaluated. Four entries, including Immigrant and Ladak alfalfa, were significantly higher in percent herbage consumed than the other entries . These same entries were consistently high in OU ratings , forage quality analyses , and most morphological characteristics. Pre-grazing dry weight (r = -0.96 , P < 0.0001) , stem length (r = 0.67, P < 0.0001), and branch density (r = 0.63, P < 0.0001) were all highly correlated with utilization. Crude protein (partial R2 = 0.253 , P ≤ 0.0001) was the only forage quality trait associated with utilization using a stepwise regression to predict utilization. From this study we conclude that some forage kochia accessions are very palatable. They are comparable to Ladak alfalfa, and utilized more than Krashnikova spp., a desirable forage on western rangelands.