Effect of perennial grasses on Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) control

An experiment was conducted near Scottsbluff, NE, to assess three techniques for establishing perennial grasses in pasture sites and to evaluate the effectiveness of five perennial grasses compared with herbicide or mowing for Canada thistle control. Perennial grass density 9 mo after seeding and perennial grass biomass 12 mo after seeding both followed the same trend, indicating that preplant roto-tilling improved perennial grass establishment. After 3 yr, Canada thistle control was greater than 90% in plots where perennial grasses had been established utilizing preplant rototilling, and competitive grasses were as effective as yearly applications of clopyralid at 0.55 kg/ha for controlling Canada thistle. Averaged across two studies conducted for 3 yr, hybrid wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, Russian wildrye, tall rescue, and western wheatgrass provided 85, 74, 76, 78, and 66% Canada thistle control, respectively.