1980-07-11_REVISION - M1977493 (8)

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The selections of streambank wheatgrass, beardless wildrye , and Arizona fescue used in the study initially produced fair to good stands, but have not persisted . No seedlings of mountain muhly were found - failure of this species is probably a reflection on non-viable seed planted. The other grass species on the test plots was a strongly rhizomatous selection of western wheatgrass that was transplanted as springs in 1970 . This grass was collected from a gold tailing pile in Victor, Colorado and appears to be the same as the strongly rhizomatous grass growing on roadsides and mine wastes in Leadville. The transplants ( each consisting of several stems and attached roots) planted on 20-inch centers have spread to give 20% live cover and 80% total ground cover ( living and dead) in 1976 . Disturbed lands are usually deficient to extremely deficient in nitrogen, thus , establishment of legumes is desirable . However , establishment, growth, and persistence of the legumes tested was disappointing , with one partial ex- ception. The exception was cicer milkvetch which as grown surprisingly well the past few years after initially being rated poor in stand establihsment and vigor. Cicer milkvetch has short rhizomes and appeared to be spreading by this mechanism. On September 4 , 1974 , it was noted that there were a few seed pods on the ricer with soft , green seed in them. Stands of birdsfoot trefoil were poor, although a few plants have good vigor. This species reproduces only by seed; but seed production has not been noted at Climax on this species . Initial stands of white Dutch clover were better than the two legumes mentioned above . However, the stands have not been persistent. White clover can reproduce by stolons, and some stolons have been noted on the Climax plantings. Seed has also been produced by some of the white clover plants at Climax. 9-5