| This study was completed in the Agua Fria grasslands of the Sonoran desert uplands, adjacent to the Prescott National Forest and the ironwood National Monument. The herbicide iniazapic was applied to Bromus rubens and Leptochloa filiformis in a split-plot experimental design. The plots were additionally seeded with a mix of native perennial bunch grasses. The herbicide was applied to a set of plots in July 2003, August 2003, and September 2003. The split plot design was defined by longevity, or the duration of the study. Data was collected on plant density and biomass, using a double-sampling method for biomass. The split-plot characteristic of longevity was found not to be significant to the results of the study. The data analysis was approached using a multi-factorial ANOVA, Tukey's HSD and finalized with a linear regression model. Results demonstrated that imazapic is a viable treatment for invasive alien annual grasses in this setting, in spite of a persistent, long-term drought. The results for re-seeding were negated by drought, herbivory and predation on the seeds. There was not a statistically significant impact to the standing crop of native perennial grasses by the herbicide imazapic. |
