Native Prairie Restoration Within Old World Bluestem

Native Prairie Restoration within Old World Bluestem AMANDA LIGHTSEY

DR. FRED SMEINS ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE & MANAGEMENT DEPT. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Project Objectives



Re-establishment of native grass impossible without addressing problematic and aggressive invasive exotic species, such as: 

Kleberg bluestem (Dichanthium annulatum)



King Ranch bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum).

Hypothesis



Kleberg and King Ranch bluestem are not overly tolerant of shade 

Total removal of established Kleberg & King Ranch, over-seeding to reintroduce natives.



Plant robust, high biomass natives such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) to create shade, over-seed to reintroduce natives

Pre-treatment observations Relative Frequency 8% 14%

8%

70%

Grass

Grasslike

Forb

Woody

Pre-treatment observations

Grass Species Composition 14%

20% 66%

OWBS

CYDA

other spp.

Treatment Plan

7 treatments x 4 reps= 28 plots Shred

No Glyphosate

Control

Switchgrass only (shade)

Glyphosate

Direct native seeding

Native Seeding

Switchgrass

Summer cover crop/ Fall native seeding

Fall cover crop/ Spring native seeding

Spraying and Seeding

Research continues…..

Utmost Appreciation to



Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo



Memorial Park Conservancy



Wildlife Habitat Federation





Garry Stephens



Kenneth Blezinger

Fellow Texas A&M University Researchers: 

Xavier Jamie



Cassidy Ince



Deseri Nally



Amy Thompson