Battling Brome: Open Space Staff Initiates Study to Find Best Methods in Managing Smooth Brome Grass

What is Smooth Brome?

Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) is a fast-growing perennial grass that thrives in cooler weather. It begins growing in early spring and spreads aggressively through seeds and rhizomes, posing a challenge as its early growth can outcompete native plants and wildflowers. Once established, smooth brome can transform diverse ecosystems into monocultures dominated by brome grass.

Determining the Best Methods for Managing Smooth Brome

Recognizing the invasive nature of smooth brome and its impact on native grasslands is essential for effective ecosystem management. Thus, the City of Louisville Open Space division has initiated a comprehensive study to determine the most efficient and best method(s) for combating smooth brome spread and abundance.

This research will be conducted from April to November 2024 across 15 study plots located in the North Open Space area. These plots will compare treated and untreated areas to evaluate the outcomes of different management techniques. Various strategies, including mowing, grazing, haying, chemical application, and solarizing, will be tested for effectiveness and cost efficiency. Each treatment method will include both seeded and unseeded plots. Additionally, one plot will remain untreated, serving as a control for comparison with the other treatment methods.

Key Objectives of the Study

• Evaluate the effectiveness of different control methods: The primary goal of this study is to determine the most effective methods for controlling the spread and abundance of smooth brome within designated study plots.
• Promote Native Grass Regeneration: In addition to combating smooth brome, the study seeks to identify strategies that encourage the regeneration and restoration of native grass species in degraded prairie and rangeland systems.
• Conduct Comparative Analysis: Various treatment options will be compared for their efficacy and cost-effectiveness, aiming to identify the best approach for larger-scale implementation across multiple acreages.
• Identify Ecosystem-Friendly Methods: Emphasis will be placed on identifying treatment methods that are both comprehensive in their impact on the ecosystem and low in their environmental footprint.