Russian thistle (<i>Salsola</i> spp.) control in California rangelands over five years

Abstract Russian thistle, also known as tumbleweed ( Salsola spp.), is a problematic invasive plant found on natural and working landscapes. On California rangeland, we tested the singular interactive treatments of grazing, herbicide, seeding to determine how these approaches might influence cover across 5-yr experiment. Total declined by 3% annually during study. A single spring treatment chlorsulfuron + 2,4-D followed glyphosate applied in fall just before seeding, then following spring, significantly reduced compared with untreated control. Seeded forage species increased over time was higher than seeded native at 5 yr after seeding. However, had no effect cover. Although grazing did not reduce cover, due beneficial effects reducing other nonnative species, this study supports use an integrated approach herbicide application, achieve management goals arid landscape.