Abstract
We examined the effects of irrigation on 4 moist-soil plants commonly managed for waterfowl in the Sacramento Valley, California. Irrigation resulted in taller and heavier swamp timothy (Heleochloa schoenoides), pricklegrass (Crypsis niliaca), and sprangletop (Leptochloa fasicularis). Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli) grew taller in irrigated wetlands, but no significant difference in weight was detected. Only sprangletop yielded larger seed masses in response to irrigation. Without irrigation, swamp timothy and pricklegrass assumed a typical prostrate growth form, but with irrigation, they assumed a vertical growth form. Irrigation did not significantly affect plant density. Because of rising water costs, wetland managers should consider wildlife management objectives and plant responses before implementing irrigation practices.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Begg, E.L. 1968. Soil survey Glenn County, California. U.S. Government Printing Office. Washington, DC, USA.
Chabreck, R.H. 1979. Wintering habitat of dabbling ducks—physical, chemical and biological aspects. p. 133–142.In T.A. Bookhout (ed.) Waterfowl and wetlands: an integrated review. Proceedings 1977 Symposium, North Central Section, The Wildlife Society. Madison, WI, USA.
Connelly, D.P. 1979. Propagation of selected marsh plants in the San Joaquin Valley. Wildlife Management Leaflet. No. 15. California Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA, USA.
Connelly, D.P. and D.L. Chesemore. 1980. Food habits of pintails,Anas acuta, wintering on seasonally flooded wetlands in the northern San Joaquin Valley, California. California Fish and Game 66:191–200.
Euliss, N.H., Jr. and S.W. Harris. 1987. Feeding ecology of northern pintails and green-winged teal wintering in California. Journal of Wildlife Management 51:724–732.
Fredrickson, L.H. and T.S. Taylor. 1982. Management of seasonally flooded impoundments for wildlife. Resource Publication #148. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, USA.
Gilmer, D.S., M.R. Miller, R.D. Bauer, and J.R. LeDonne. 1982. California’s Central Valley wintering waterfowl: concerns and challenges. Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference 47:441–452.
Heitmeyer, M.E. and L.H. Fredrickson. 1981. Do wetland conditions in the Mississippi Delta hardwoods influence mallard recruitment? Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference 46:44–57.
Miller, M.R. 1987. Fall and winter foods of northern pintalls in the Sacramento Valley, California. Journal of Wildlife Management 51:405–414.
Milliken, G.A. and D.E. Johnson. 1984. Analysis of messy data, Volume 1: Designed Experiments. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. New York, NY, USA.
Statistical Analysis System (SAS). 1985. SAS user’s guide. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1978. Concept plan for waterfowl wintering habitat preservation—Central Valley, California. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR, USA.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. North American waterfowl management plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR, USA.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mushet, D.M., Euliss, N.H. & Harris, S.W. Effects of irrigation on seed production and vegetative characteristics of four moist-soil plants on impounded wetlands in California. Wetlands 12, 204–207 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160610
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160610