The biology of Canadian weeds. 134. Bromus inermis Leyss

Abstract

Otfinowski, R., Kenkel, N. C. and Catling, P. M. 2007. The biology of Canadian weeds. 134. Bromus inermis Leyss. Can. J. Plant Sci. 87: [183][184][185][186][187][188][189][190][191][192][193][194][195][196][197][198]. Smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.), a native of central Eurasia, was introduced to Canada as a forage and hay crop around 1888. Early reports of plants escaped from cultivation appear in 1903, and based on the number of collections prior to 1920, smooth brome spread most rapidly in western Canada. It is common along roadsides, forest margins, clearings, shorelines and disturbed areas, but its most detrimental impact is on the diversity of prairies and native grasslands. For example, in Riding Mountain National Park, MB, plant diversity of fescue prairies recently invaded by smooth brome decreased by 70%. Vegetative proliferation through underground rhizomes is key to the invasiveness of smooth brome, but long-range dispersal of seeds is facilitated by animals, wind and the transport of hay. Smooth brome is effectively controlled using selective applications of glyphosate and well-timed clipping. However, restoration of infested areas depends on the composition of native seed banks. Smooth brome remains valuable as a forage and cover crop in every province and territory in Canada. [183][184][185][186][187][188][189][190][191][192][193][194][195][196][197][198]. Le brome inerme (Bromus inermis Leyss.), plante indigène du centre de l'Eurasie, a été introduit au Canada pour la production fourragère vers 1888. Les premiers rapports mentionnant des plants retournés à l'état sauvage datent de 1903. D'après le nombre de prélèvements effectués avant 1920, on constate cependant que l'espèce s'est répan-due plus rapidement dans l'ouest du pays. Le brome inerme colonise souvent le bas-côté des routes, la lisière des bois, les clairières, les rivages et les terres perturbées, mais l'espèce nuit le plus à la diversité de la flore des prairies et des pâturages naturels. Dans le parc national Riding Mountain, au Manitoba, on a noté une diminution de la diversité des plantes de 70 % dans les prairies à fétuques récemment envahies par le brome inerme. L'efficacité du brome inerme vient essentiellement de sa reproduction végé-tative par rhizomes, mais les animaux, le vent et le transport du foin favorisent la dispersion des graines sur de grandes distances. L'application sélective de glyphosate et une coupe opportune permettent une lutte efficace contre cette adventice. Toutefois, la restauration des lieux infestés dépend de la composition des réserves de semences indigènes. Le brome inerme garde son utilité comme culture fourragère et culture abri dans toutes les provinces et tous les territoires du Canada. Mots clés: Bromus inermis Description and Account of Variation(a) Description. Rhizomatous perennial, 2-15 dm tall, the culms topped with open panicles 5-20 cm long with ascending or spreading branches. Rhizomes up to 1.5 m long without branching or producing stems, 2-5 mm wide, with pale scales. Culms smooth...

Influence of Richness and Seeding Density on Invasion Resistance in Experimental Tallgrass Prairie Restorations

“…Rhizome production is affected by similar processes to those that affect seed production, such as nutrient availability and interspecific competition (Otfinowski et al 2007), and is also sensitive to changes in light intensity and quality, with tiller density increasing with increasing light intensity (Biligetu and Coulman 2010). Light conditions may have differed among the treatments, although this variable was not measured.…”

Assessment of Soil Biological Activity in Northern Aspen Parkland Native and Seeded Pasture Using Bait Lamina

“…Many introduced forages including Kentucky bluegrass (Peterson et al, 1979) and smooth brome (Otfinowski et al, 2007), both common species within seeded grasslands of the present study, are known to possess shallow, creeping rooted morphologies, and may reduce the quality of habitat for soil organisms at deeper depths. Conversely, increased rooting in shallow layers may favour those organisms that prefer the shallow soil profile (van Eekeren et al, 2008), and account for the limited difference in bait lamina removal between vegetation types in this soil layer.…”

Patch dynamics of a native grass in relation to the spread of invasive smooth brome (Bromus inermis)

“…More recently, brome has escaped from its planted habitats and become established in native remnant prairies (D'Antonio and Vitousek 1992). At present, smooth brome has received little attention as an invasive species (but see Blankespoor and Larson 1994), despite the fact that its invasive status has been often noted (Cronin 2007;Haynes and Cronin 2003;Otfinowski et al 2007;Williams and Crone 2006). For instance, Williams and Crone (2006) developed a demographic model based on natural patches that indicated smooth brome is capable of slowing the growth and promoting the extinction of native Anemone patens (Pasque flower) patches.…”

“…These data were used to determine if the amount of neighboring brome was correlated with the growth rates of cordgrass patches. We chose a distance of 1 m because smooth brome and prairie cordgrass are capable of spreading by this distance during a single growing season (Otfinowski et al 2007;USDA and NRCS 2008). Therefore, competitive interactions are likely to take place within this buffer area.…”