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r� <br />Annual Kochia: <br />1. Is an annual weed. <br />2, Establishes in disturbed sites throughout the United States, <br />3. Invades millions of acres of cropland. <br />4. Is rarely found on rangelands unless the area has been completely reduced to bare soil. <br />S. Is not a preferred forage plant for livestock or wildlife. <br />Forage Kochia as Livestock and Wildlife Forage <br />Forage kochia makes excellent feed for both wildlife and livestock. During winter periods or dry <br />seasons the protein content of grass drops below the typical required 8 percent level required by <br />most animals. Shrubs, such as forage kochia, are generally higher in protein than grasses. Forage <br />kochla's protein content runs from 8 -14 percent depending upon the time of year (Welch 1984). Its <br />protein !eves peaks in August around 14.7 percent and drops to a low of 8.9 percent in March <br />(Davis 1979 & 1985). Between August and March is when grasses are at their lowest protein <br />levels: thus forage kochia used with grasses at this time can complement the nutritional levels <br />required by livestock. <br />Forage kochia is palatable to livestock yearlong. A study comparing the winter diets of sheep <br />grazing forage kochia and crested wheatgrass, and winter fat and crested wheatgrass found forage <br />kochia amounted to 51.1 percent of the diet on the first year and 44.6 percent of the diet on the <br />second year. Winterfat, a well- known, highly palatable shrub, was 27 and 19 percent of the diet in <br />• each of the years, In part the higher consumption of forage kochia can be explained by the greater <br />amount of forage produced by forage kochia, but it also shows its high palatability (MeKeli, 1990). <br />As long as adequate amounts of forage kochia are available, it will provide adequate protein to <br />meet the needs of grazing animals during the late season (McKell, 1990). <br />In the Dunphy Hills area (Elko BLM District) forage kochia, grasses and shrubs were seeded on <br />degraded rangeland that was considered "critical" winter habitat for mule deer. The first year after <br />seeding, annual plants still dominated, however forage kochia was evident. Forage kochia <br />becomes a stronger part of the plant complex, and after four years, evidence of Wyoming big sage, <br />thickspike wheatgrass, and other native bunchgrasses and forbs were becoming visible. As a <br />consequence mule deer fawn ratios have increased In recent year (Clements, 1994). <br />Replacing Cheatgrass on Nevada Rangelands <br />Cheatgrass is a winter annual. If adequate moisture is available, it will germinate in the fall or late <br />winter. If winter moisture is inadequate it germinates in early spring. Cheatgrass grows very quickly <br />in the spring, uses available water, forms seeds, and then dries out in early summer_ The mature <br />seeds are deposited on the ground and are ready to grow with adequate moisture. Cheatgrass can <br />start growth earlier in the spring than the natives can. This usually results in cheatgrass out - <br />competing the seedlings of perennial plants on the low precipitation /elevation rangelands in <br />Nevada. <br />Fire is a recurring event on many rangelands in Nevada. Fires burn every 50 -110 years in native <br />range, wnile cheatgrass invaded ranges often bum every 3 -5 years (Whisenant, 1990). Cheatgrass <br />dries out early in the season, and forms an even blanket of fuel, which often allows fires to start and <br />burn_ This constant burning eliminates the range of woody plant species and decreases perennial <br />forbs and grasses. The result is a replacement of the native vegetation with cheatgrass. <br />6 of8 <br />• <br />