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Page 4-MSWCO Supplement to the Heppner Gazett•Times, Ma.rch 10, 1993 MSWCO Supplement to the Heppner Gazette-Times, March 10, 1993 - Page 5 Effects of spotted knapweed on soil erosion By John R. Lacey, Extension Range Management Specialist and Clayton B. Marlow, Alaociate Professor' Montana State University. The influence of spotted kDlpweed on the clemems of ero- sion surface runoff and sediment yield was evaluated in western Montana. Comparisons were made on paired plots under imulalcd rainfall conditions. R..,ff and sediment were 56% and 192% higher, respectively, on the knapwced-dominatcd, ralber than the bunchgrass- domimkd plocs. It was conclud- ed lhlt aplJlled kDlpwecd invasion into bunchgrass rangeland of wcsecm MODlana was detrimen- tal to lhe objectives of protecting ww-,il md conserving water. lntrodactlon: Spotted knapweed (Centaurca maculosa) has invaded about 4 . 7 million acres of range and pasture land in Montana. This invasion bas caused ranchers and other land managers to be concerned about the possibility of increased soil erosion. This report evaluates surface runoff and soil erosion on ites dominated by either spotted knapwced or native bunchgras - e . Methods: 'The study was con-- ducted northwest of Garrison , Monlanll, on the Bill Murphy Ranch. Annual precipitation averages l 3 inches and elevation averages 4 ,450 feet . Solis were fine-loamy, mixed frigid, Typic U tochrcpts, and loamy- keletal , mixed, Aridic Haploborolls. Slopes ranged from 13 to 37%. Bluebunch wheatgra {Agropyron picatum), potted knapweed, rough fescue {Festuca cabrella), prairie JUnegras (Kocleria cri tata), hood phlox {Phloxhoodii), Idaho fe tuca ( Fe tuca tdahocn 1 ) and lupine (Lupmu pp.) were common pecie in the tudy area. The area was lightly grazed by cattle in the pring of 1987 and re ted during ummer and fall . Paired-plots were located at 12 study sites. Percent slope, soil and range site characteristics were similar between members of each pair; however, vegetation differences existed. Bunchgrasses produced about 90% of the her- bage on one plot of each pair, 14' 1lt u, Runoff 6G 50 - S..lmmt 1- (11/aa-e) JO 20 " .. • visory Committee and Jerry Anderson, manager of Morrow SWCD is chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee. Loren Unruh , SCS di trict con- servationi t, is al o a member of the Technical Advisory group. The Technical Advisory Commit- tee was succe sful in obtaining Strategic Water Management Group (SWMG) grant monies and hired a coordinator for the Lower Umatilla Basin Manage- ment Area and i currently bas- ed at the SCS office in Pendleton. The LUB is proceeding slow- ---~-ii'i ly while waiting for DEQ and Water Resources Department to finish gathering nitrate readings from various wells in the basin. This information should be available in June or July of 1993. In addition to hiring a ground- water coordinator, the TAC wa also successful in obtaining a Gid- ding soil probe to be used in the basin to obtain soil sample from below the root zone to ascertain if nitrate accumulation i occur- ring and if utilizing " ponge" crop would avoid continued nitrate loading of the vado e zone. 31 -60 minutes 0-JO mlnutea 70 significantly higher on the knapweed plots than on the grass plots. Differences between knapweed and grass plots were not significantly different during the second 30-minute run. It was 4G 31 20 1-llmlnuta while spotted knapweed con- tnl,uted about 90% of the herbage on the other. A modified Meeuwig Rainfall Simulator was used to apply a controlled, consistent volume of rainfall to 26-inch X 26-inch plot . Rainfall was applied dur- ing two consecutive 30-minute period . Vegetation was clipped at 0 .5 inch tubble and removed before the second 30-minute ap- plication. Re ultant overland flow was collected and measured, and the amount of ediment in the runoff calculated (figure I). Results and lkussion: Total runoff from the initial 30-minute rain on gra s-dominated ite averaged 23% and varied from three to 49% of the total volume applied (figure 1). Runoff from the knapweed-dominated ites wa ignificantly higher (p<0.10). It averaged 36% and varied from 1 to 67 % of the total volume applied (figure I) . Although runoff increased during the econd 30-minute run , dif- ferences between knapweed-and gra -dominated ites were not ignificant (p>0. 10). Between calving, seeding and all the other spring time chores, you don't need insurance worries. Let us help you arrange an insurance program tailored to your operation. Whether it's for your home, autos, equipment, livestock, crops or any of your farm or ranch needs, see Bob, Steve or Marianne at Van Marter & Kahl Insurance, Inc. in Heppner and let us work for you . concluded that spotted lcnapweed invasion into bunchgrass rangeland of western Montana was detrimental to the objectives of protecting topsoil and conser- ving water . 31-'0 mlnutea Time AHL Spotted Knapwocd Morrow SWCD worked with the Lower Umatilla Basin (LUB) Groundwater Management Area during the '91 -92 fiscal year with both the Technical and Citizen Advisory Committee' members. Duane Neiffer replaced Rudy Bergstrom on the Citizen Ad- Time SI AN MARTER & Buocbgrm 40 111 100 FARM INSURANCE NSURANCE 70 10 0 . ,. m 10 applies) ••nncr- - Spolted Kmpweed SWCD works with lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Fl&urc 1 · Avence •rfaee nanolT from n ~ ,dominated either by pc,rennlal bunchg,..or lpOUC!d knapweed (~ of volume Flpn l - A--ace .i1mmt lea rrom nnp dominated either by permnW b u ~ or lpGl1ed kaapweed. See Us For -~ Sediment yield was significant- ly less (p. < 0. JO) on grass- dominated rather than on knapweed-dominated sites. Sedi- ment averaged 39 lbs/ac from grass sites during the initial 30-minute run. Sediment lo s in- creased during the second 30-minute run (figure 2). Her- bage production averaged 1,20 I lbs/ac on grass sites and 1,065 on the knapweed sites. Total runoff nor soil erosion appeared to be directly influenc- ed by total herbage production . In tead, sediment eroded from a ite increased with percent lope, amount of bare ground and with the loss of plant material (litter). In general, there was more bare ground on the knapweed plots than on the grass plots. Summary: The influence of spotted knap-weed on surface runoff and sediment yield was evaluated. Surface runoff and sediment yield during the initial 30-minute application were •u• STRHl M[P'110 OR[,QR nm Contractor And Seller Of Grass Seeds Morrow County Abstract & T itle Co., Inc. For Complete Title and Escrow Service 269 NORTH MAIN IN HEPPNER or in BOARDMAN CALL 481-9261 for an appoint- ment at our LANDMARK SQUARE OFFICE. Heppner - 676-9912 Boardman - 481-9261 MR. FARMER & RANCHER: Your Locally owned Bank of Eastern Oregon stands ready to help you with your conservation plans. Stop in and discuss your needs where ''Your money helps you and your neighbors. '' More than 70% of our deposits go back into loans in your community. 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