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Forage Kochia <br />Page 2 of 2 <br />germinate well for up to 6 to 8 months after harvest. <br />Leaves: Leaves linear to thread-like. <br />Stems: Stems grow from a low woody base. The upper stems turn redd <br />brown and dry up after seed shatter. The lower stems stay green and <br />succulent year-round. <br />Ecological Adaptations: <br />Forage kochia occurs in desert and semi-desert areas of Utah. Most <br />success has been found in areas with high alkalinity. It benefits from <br />grazing at 70% to 80% utilization. It sprouts and regrows after burning. <br />Forage kochia does not tolerate flooding or soil with a water table. <br />Soils: Most common in alkaline clay soils. It is well adapted to a wider <br />range of soils, including fine- to coarse-textured, shallow- to deep-grave <br />to stony, and saline to alkaline. It seems to grow best on heavy textured <br />soils. It is not well adapted to neutral or acidic soils. <br />Associated Species: Cheatgrass, bulbous bluegrass, halogeton. <br />Uses and Management: <br />Forage kochia has been seeded to improve plant community diversity, <br />aesthetics, plant cover species richness, forage for livestock and wildlife <br />fire prevention, and soil stability. It suppresses or eliminates the invasior <br />alien annual weeds like cheatgrass, halogeton, Russian thistle, and <br />medusahead rye. It is not highly invasive and does not spread aggressi~ <br />into healthy plant communities. It does not compete well with perennial <br />grasses. <br />USU Extension ~ Intermountain Herbarium ~ College of Natural Resources <br />USU <br />Contact Webmaster <br />Copyright 2002 <br />http://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/Woody/foragekochia.htm 11/15/2006 <br />