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establish in sites with as little as 5 inches of rainfall per year. It also establishes well in alkaline and <br />saline sites <br />Forage kochia can also be successfully established with broadcast seeding (Page, 1994). If the <br />seed is broadcast, it is essential that it be done in the early winter before the majority of the winter <br />snow is on the ground (November is optimal). This will allow snow, rain, and the freeze /thaw action <br />of the soil during winter to lightly cover the kochia seeds. <br />Seed Viability <br />Proper storage of forage kochia seed can be difficult. Large reductions in germination rate can <br />occur in a single year if the seed is not stored correctly (Young, 1981). The seed should be dried <br />and stored under dry cool conditions to maintain adequate germination. Seed is normally harvested <br />in October or November, making it difficult to dry enough for proper storage. Because of storage <br />difficulties it is best to plant the current year's seed. Forage kochia seed will have the best <br />germination if it is planted within a few months after harvest (November - December). <br />If forced to buy seed that is a year old, try to buy seed that has been stored in a cool, dry place. it is <br />best if the seed has been stored at 50 degrees or less. A CURRENT germination test should be <br />done on the seed and it should be purchased on a Pure Live Seed (PLS) basis. This is important <br />as a germination rate of 50 percent or less is common in older seed. <br />Conclusion <br />Forage kochia has proven to be an adapted, highly palatable forage species for livestock and <br />wildlife. it is competitive with cheatgrass and much more fire resistant. it provides diversity and <br />• cover when seeded with crested wheatgrass. With all things considered, forage kochia deserves <br />greater use when seeding Nevada rangelands. <br />Literature Cited: <br />Davis A M 1979. Forage quality of Prostrate Kochia compared with three browse species. Agronomy Journal. 71.822- <br />824. <br />Davis, J.N. and B.L. Welch. 1985. Winter preference, nutritive value, and other range characteristics of Kochia <br />prostrata (L) Schrad. Great Basin Naturalist 45:778 -783, <br />McKell, C.M., R.M. Otsyina and J. Malechek. 1990. Diets of sheep grazing forage kochia and winterfat mixed grass <br />pasture In late fall. Proceedings - Symposium on Cheatgrass Invasion, Shrub Die -off. and Other Aspects of Shrub <br />Biology and Management. Pg. 310 -316. <br />Page, R.J., V.P. Rasmussen, H.H. Horton, R.L Newhall, D.E. Wilson, G.W Kidd and T C. Roberts 1994 White Rocks <br />Road Immigrant Forage Kochia Trial Seeding. Rangelands. Pg 167 -168. <br />Stevens, R.K , R. Jorgensen, E.D. McArthur and J.N. Davis. 1985. "Immigrant" Forage Kochia Range. 7(1),22 -23, <br />Welch. B.L. and S.D. Monsen. 1984. Winter Nutritive value of accessions of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens <br />(Prush.) Nutt.) grown in a uniform garden. <br />Whisenant, S.G. 1990. Changing Fire Frequencies on Idaho's Snake River Plains: Ecological and Management <br />Implications. Proceeding - Symposium on Cheatgrass Invasion, Shrub Die -off, and Other Aspects of Shrub Biology <br />and Management. Pg. 4-10. <br />Young, J.A., R.A. Evans, R. Stevens and R.L. Everett. 1981. Germination of Kochia prostrata Seed. Agronomy Journal, <br />Vol. 73, Nov -Dec Pg 957 -961. <br />UNIVERSITY The University of Nevada. Reno is an Equal OpportunityfAfflrmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the <br />OF NEVADA basis of race. corer, religion, sex. age, creed, iollonal origin, veteran status, physical or mental drsahWy, or sexual <br />RENO 'orientation. In any program or actively ii operates The University of Nevada employs only United Shales cftens and <br />those aliens levrlulty authonzed to work in the United States. <br />6 OT 5 <br />is <br />