VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Solidago missouriensis | Prairie Goldenrod 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Prairie goldenrod is rated slightly poisonous to livestock [12].  The
leaves may be eaten by livestock while the plants are relatively
immature in the spring and early summer, but it is generally considered
poor forage [22] and is of limited importance as a forage plant [17].
Prairie goldenrod was available for use by domestic sheep in
southeastern Montana, but was not a component of their diet in June,
July, or August of 1979 [2].

Prairie goldenrod was eaten by mule deer in east-central Idaho in
February, 1976, but was a very minor component of their diet.  It was
not utilized any other month [23].

Only incidental use is made of prairie goldenrod by small mammals and
birds [44].

The flowerheads of prairie goldenrod are used by flies, bees,
butterflies, and beetles for pollen and nectar [5].


PALATABILITY : 
Prairie goldenrod palatability for livestock in several western states
is as follows [12]:

                     CO       MT       ND       UT       WY

        Cattle      poor     poor     fair     poor     fair
        Sheep       fair     fair     fair     fair     fair
        Horses      poor     poor     fair     poor     fair


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Prairie goldenrod energy value and protein value for livestock is poor [12].

The food value of prairie goldenrod is as follows [12]:

                              MT       ND       UT       WY

     Elk                     fair     ----     fair     poor
     Mule deer               fair     fair     fair     good
     White-tailed deer       ----     ----     ----     fair
     Pronghorn               fair     fair     fair     fair
     Upland game birds       ----     ----     fair     fair  
     Waterfowl               ----     ----     poor     poor
     Small nongame birds     ----     ----     fair     fair
     Small mammals           ----     ----     fair     fair


COVER VALUE : 
The cover value of prairie goldenrod is as follows [12]:

                              ND         UT         WY

     Elk                     ----       poor       poor
     Mule deer               fair       poor       poor
     White-tailed deer       ----       ----       poor
     Pronghorn               fair       poor       poor
     Upland game birds       ----       fair       fair
     Waterfowl               ----       poor       poor
     Small nongame birds     ----       fair       poor
     Small mammals           ----       fair       poor


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Prairie goldenrod has utility for revegetation of disturbed areas [36],
minespoil reclamation [6,7] and soil stabilization.  It shows winter
hardiness and moderate drought tolerance [44].

Prairie goldenrod seeds collected in the Badlands of western North
Dakota were grown on raw coal spoil material to evaluate their use in
minespoil reclamation.  Prairie goldenrod had acceptable seedling
emergence and subsequent growth from direct seeding.  Greenhouse plants
had almost 100 percent survival, a higher rate than that of seedlings
[6,7].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Prairie goldenrod has utility for watershed cover and wildlife plantings
[44].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Prairie goldenrod shows weak competitiveness in dense grasslands, but in
more open cover shows moderate aggressiveness and ability to invade and
dominate.  Prairie goldenrod in shortgrass prairie of northwestern
Montana had higher density in quadrats with low spotted knapweed
(Centaurea maculosa) density than in those with high spotted knapweed
density [39].  In the Great Plains prairie goldenrod increased with
drought during the 1930's, and in some places became a major constituent
of the weedy flora in tallgrass prairie [45].  Prairie goldenrod is
generally reported to be an increaser with grazing [30,37], sometimes
becoming a nuisance [22].

Seeding often fails, so transplanting rootstock divisions or small
plants may be the only certain way of ensuring stand establishment [44].
However, prairie hay has been used successfully as a seed source and
mulch [36].  Grazing or mowing established populations about 1 month
before normal flowering may induce more flower buds to open and extend
flowering period.  In order to maximize seed production flowers should
be permitted to mature before any further defoliation occurs in the fall
[44].  Rodents and grasshoppers may endanger new seedlings of prairie
goldenrod.  Dodder (Cuscuta spp.), a plant which sometimes parasitizes
prairie goldenrod stands, can be a problem in humid regions [44].

Prairie goldenrod in northeastern Kansas native tallgrass prairie was
ingested by grasshoppers in relation to its availability, being neither
avoided nor sought after [25].

Related categories for Species: Solidago missouriensis | Prairie Goldenrod