Revegetation following artificial disturbance. Progress report, 1 June 1975--29 February 1976. [Agropyron smithii, Bromus tectorum, B. inermis, Bantelona gracilis]
Areas at Rocky Flats that had previously been reseeded by Rocky Flats personnel were evaluated for seeding success. Only one species in the seed mixture, Agropyron smithii (western wheatgrass) made a significant contribution to the stand. Two other species which made important contributions but were not in the seed mixture were Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) and B. inermis (smooth brome). The vegetation receiving chronic exposure to ionizing radiation at the Grasslands Irradiation Study Area appears to be near equilibrium although electromagnet failure prevented irradiation for approximately 3 months during late summer 1975. Secondary succession is continuing in the sectors given a seasonal, short-term exposure in 1969 but at exposures where the dominant species, Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama) was killed there is no indication that any recovery of the B. gracilis is taking place. In plots that were artificially disturbed by burning, scraping and tilling, recovery patterns in the burned plots most nearly parallel recovery patterns of the areas receiving intermediate damage from exposure to ionizing radiation. For the scraped and tilled plots, recovery patterns most nearly paralleled those receiving heavy damage from exposure to ionizing radiation where all B. gracilis was killed.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA). Dept. of Radiology and Radiation Biology
- DOE Contract Number:
- E(11-1)-2743
- OSTI ID:
- 7343120
- Report Number(s):
- COO-2743-1; TRN: 08-019596
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Natural succession impeded by smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium) in an abandoned agricultural field
Water and nutrient competition between Salsola kali and two native grass species (Agropyron smithii and Bouteloua gracilis)
Related Subjects
GRASS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
PLANTS
ROCKY FLATS PLANT
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
SEEDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOMASS
ENERGY SOURCES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RECOVERY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
510300* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)