Walter H. Fick

Weed Management on Military Artillery Ranges

Various commercial chemicals were tested to control visually obstructive weed populations abundant in the target zones on the Fort Riley Military Reservation. With the use of the integrated pest management concept, several herbicides applied at lower amounts than the historical treatment were effective in reducing tall weedy plants by at least 90%. A change in these chemicals thus would help to meet the United States Department of Defense directive to reduce pesticide usage.

Effects of sericea lespedeza residues on selected tallgrass prairie grasses

Abstract Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata [Dumont] G. Don) has shown allelopathic properties in tame pastures but no studies have been done on its allelochemical effects on grasses in eastern Kansas rangelands where it is currently invading. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), little bluestem (Andropogon scoparious Michx.), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) were exposed to sericea lespedeza stem and leaf residues and their germination and growth responses studied. Compared to the checks, germination rates were reduced for big bluestem (15 to 27%), indiangrass (25 to 39%), and Kentucky bluegrass (47 to 60%). These grasses also exhibited shorter radicle lengths and shorter coleoptile lengths. However, none of these grasses had any growth reductions. Little bluestem was not affected in any way.

Cut-Stump Treatment of Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima) on the Cimarron National Grasslands

Saltcedar is an invasive shrub or tree found along stream banks and waterways throughout the western United States. Research was conducted on saltcedar stands located on the Cimarron National Grasslands near Elkhart, KS. Saltcedar was cut during the dormant season. Spring applied treatments included an untreated check and herbicides containing either glyphosate, triclopyr, or imazapyr. All untreated plants resprouted. All herbicides provided greater than 90% defoliation 3 months after treatment (MAT), except those cut-stump treatments containing glyphosate. At 15 MAT, glyphosate + imazapyr (5% + 5%), imazapyr (10%), triclopyr (5 and 10%), and undiluted triclopyr as Pathfinder II provided ≥ 80% mortality.

Weed Management on Military Storage Gravel Lots

Abstract Various commercial chemicals were tested to control visually obstructive weed populations abundant in the graveled storage areas on the Fort Riley Military Reservation. Several herbicides applied at lower amounts than the historical treatment were effective in reducing weedy plants. The chemicals Oust and Telar + Karmex provided the best long-term control. Arsenal could be added to a tank mix to provide greater control of field bindweed and tumble windmill grass. A change to these chemicals as part of the integrated pest management strategy would thus help to meet the United States Department of Defense directive to reduce pesticide usage.

The Potential Impacts of Saltcedar Eradication (Tamarix sp.) on the Birds of the Cimarron National Grassland

Saltcedar (Tamarix sp.) is a non-native woody invasive species that reduces groundwater supplies. Natural resource agencies and private landowners are seeking to eradicate this exotic species from watersheds in western Kansas, including from along the Cimarron River on the Cimarron National Grasslands. Our research studied the effects of saltcedar eradication on species richness and abundance of avian populations in riparian habitats. Nine, 500-m transects were established. Three were located in areas of dense saltcedar, three were in treated areas where saltcedar had been removed, and three were in areas dominated by cottonwood (Populus deltoides). For four consecutive years (2006–2009), each of the nine transects was walked twice during the typical avian breeding season (22 May to 5 July). The number of individuals for each bird species seen or heard within 50 m of the 500-m transect line was recorded. Twenty-seven bird species were found to be nesting in saltcedar. Saltcedar eradication efforts may negatively impact local populations of these species. Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla), and Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) were found only in saltcedar-encroached areas and therefore may be particularly negatively affected by saltcedar removal. The removal of the woody vegetation created more grassland habitat thereby potentially benefiting the seven species of grassland birds found exclusively in the treated areas. Riparian areas dominated by cottonwood had the highest species richness with 36 species found, including 14 species that were found only in these areas. If successful, the current efforts of the US Forest Service (USFS) to establish and maintain cottonwood forest along the Cimarron River likely will result in significantly increased avian species richness.

Weed control with imazaquin and pendimethalin around newly planted shrub and tree seedlings

It is the policy of Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and materials without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Kansas State University is an equal opportunity organization. These materials may be available in alternative formats.

Botanical composition of mature ewe diets in the Kansas Flint Hills

© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. Transl. Anim. Sci. 2018.2:S167–S172 doi: 10.1093/tas/txy037

Botanical composition of yearling steer diets in the Kansas Flint Hills

© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. Transl. Anim. Sci. 2018.2:S134–S138 doi: 10.1093/tas/txy040

Late Summer Prescribed Fire and Fall Herbicide Application Show Strong Suppressive Effects on Sericea Lespedeza Frequency and Vigor

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a one-time application of late summer prescribed fire followed by fall herbicide application for substantially reducing sericea lespedeza frequency and vigor. Study Description: A single 80-acre native tallgrass pasture was divided into 16 units. Each of these units was either burned in early September (burn only), sprayed with Escort XP (DuPont, Wilmington, DE) in late September (spray only), burned in early September and subsequently sprayed in late September (burn + spray), or neither burned nor sprayed (control). Sericea lespedeza frequency and vigor was measured shortly before treatment application and again 1 year following treatment application. The Bottom Line: Applying late summer prescribed fire alone is an effective and low-cost means of sericea lespedeza control in areas of light infestation, while burning plus spraying holds promise as a useful strategy to achieve more rapid control of heavy infestations.

Sericea Lespedeza Control Strategies Differ in Their Impacts on Overall Range Health and Native Plant Species Composition

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) control strategies of late summer prescribed burning and fall herbicide application on soil cover, native plant populations, and biological diversity. Study Description: We established 16 individual units within an 80-acre native tallgrass pasture. Each unit was assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: control, spray only, burn only, or burn-plus-spray. Burn only and burnplus-spray units were burned in early September. Spray only and burn-plus-spray units were sprayed with metsulfuron methyl (Escort XP, DuPont, Wilmington, DE) in late September. The change in soil cover and plant community composition from prior to treatment application to 1 year after treatment was measured. The Bottom Line: The benefits of curbing a major invasion of sericea lespedeza may make burn-plusspray a desirable short-term strategy in some instances, but widespread or extended use of the practice should be applied with caution.