Collaborators/Partners

Dr. Erik Lehnhoff, CIPM; Drs. Mangold, Menalled and Rew, Montana State University, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences; Jennifer Cramer, Treasure County Weed District

Project Summary

We will obtain information on soil characteristics (specifically salt accumulation) of saltcedar invaded sites, as well as knowledge of plant community recovery after treatment and removal of saltcedar.  During the summer of 2009, we will be collecting soil samples and conducting vegetation surveys at four types of sites: (1) saltcedar treated by “cut stump” method, (2) saltcedar treated by “basal bark” method, (3) saltcedar treated by foliar herbicide and (4) saltcedar untreated. None of the sites will have been undergone any further restoration, including re-vegetation with native species. The research will assist in future saltcedar treatment projects by helping land managers understand and predict which vegetation will occupy the site subsequent to saltcedar treatment, and by providing soil information which will assist in future selection of species for re-vegetation.