Competition betweenElymus elymoidesandTaeniatherum caput-medusae

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted from 1993–1994 through 1995–1996 growing seasons in Harney County, OR, to determine the relative competitive abilities ofElymus elymoides(squirreltail) a native perennial range grass, andTaeniatherum caput-medusae(medusahead), an exotic annual grass weed. The 1993–1994 growing season was very dry, 1994–1995 was dry, and 1995–1996 was wetter than average. One experiment tested seedlings vs. seedlings in each of three seasons. The second experiment tested seedlings plus second- and third-year establishedE. elymoidesplants vs. 77caput-medusaeover 2 yr. Biomass, seed production, and soil moisture utilization 15, 30, 45, and 60 cm deep by the two species were measured. A randomized block design with factorial arrangement was used, with 25 2.25-m2plots per block. Initial seeding densities of each species were 0, 10, 74, 550, and 4,074 seeds m−2in all combinations of density. In the seedling vs. seedling experiment, intraspecific competition by 77caput-medusaeon itself was always significant (P ≤ 0.10) for both biomass and seed production. Interspecific competition byE. elymoidesseedlings onT. caput-medusaebiomass and seed production was not significant (P ≥ 0.10) in 2 of 3 yr and was always less than intraspecific competition by 77caput-medusae. Only 0.4% ofE. elymoidesseed germinated, and no seed was produced in the very dry first year, but 84% of remaining seed was viable for the next year, which had better moisture conditions for germination and establishment. Interspecific competition affected (P ≤ 0.10)E. elymoidesseedling biomass and seed production throughout the study. Intraspecific competition affected (P ≤ 0.10) seedlingE. elymoidesseed production in the dry year but not in the wetter than average year. In the matureE. elymoidesexperiment, intraspecific competition byT. caput-medusaeon weight and seed production per plant was greater than interspecific competition fromE. elymoides. Seedling/matureE. elymoidesreducedT. caput-medusaeweight per plant in the dry year but the effect was not biologically significant. Larger, matureEelymoidesplants produced 600 to 3,000 seeds per plant during the wet year; neither intra- nor interspecific competition was a factor.Taeniatherum caput-medusaewas better able to access deeper soil moisture and was more aggressive at extracting soil moisture than wereE. elymoidesseedlings in the wet year. Cold soils and low oxygen due to wet soils may have restrictedE. elymoidesseedling root activity. MatureE. elymoidesplants did not appear restricted by cold soils or low oxygen. Established second- and third-yearE. elymoidesplants were able to compete for soil moisture down to 45 cm. The generally greater interspecific competitive effects ofT. caput-medusaeonE. elymoidesthan vice versa suggested that it will be difficult to establish anE. elymoidesstand in an existingT. caput-medusaecommunity without first suppressingT. caput-medusae. IndividualE. elymoidesplants did establish and were productive with and withoutT. caput-medusaecompetition.