Replacing Wyethia with Desirable Forage Species

Abstract

D ENSE stands of wyethia (Wyethia amplexicaulis and W. helianthoides) now occur on extensive areas of western mountain range lands (Fig. 1A). These plants prefer moist, heavy soils, and consequently are found on some of the most productive sites. An air-dry herbage production of more than 1.5 tons per acre is possible on many of these sites, but when most of this is made up of the relat)ively unpalatable wyethia, there is only a small amount of usable forage. Such stands of wyethia may be native on some areas, but on many others it is thought that wyethia has increased as more palatable plants have been reduced by heavy grazing. Wyethia appears to be long lived and a strong competitor, so that its elimination by nattiral means, if possible at all, is slow. In order to determine what methods might be successful in converting dense stands of wyethia to more desirable plants quickly, studies were begun in 1947 on the Spencer District of the Targhee National Forest in eastern Idaho. The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Lyman Richwine, District Forest Ranger, in establishing and maintaining these studies, and the work of C. E. Holscher, now with the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, who planned the Dry Creek study. They also wish to thank George Whornham of the American Chemical Paint Company for furnishing the chemicals used in the West Camas Creek study and for his advice in the selection of these chemicals. DRY CREEK STUDY