Impact on Associated Vegetation of Controlling Tall Larkspur

Abstract

Herbicide treatments that effectively control tall larkspur also convert the tall-forb community to a grass-dominated community. The composition of the grass community is determined more by the grazing system imposed on the treated area than by the herbicide treatments. Early grazing reduces mountain brome and increases letterman needlegrass. With protection from grazing, the converted grass community can produce abundant high-quality forage and watershed cover superior to that of the former larkspur-dominated tall-forb community.