VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Carex rossii | Ross' Sedge 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Pocket gophers are most common in communities with productive herbaceous
understories, which include Ross' sedge, for grazing and cover [42].
Ross' sedge provides forage for livestock and wildlife [15].


PALATABILITY : 
Ross' sedge palatability varies depending on site and animal.  Cattle
graze it sparsely on pinyon-juniper sites; sheep graze it rather heavily
in aspen parks [24].  Generally, palatability to elk, mule deer, and
moose is moderate to high, and it is highly preferred by bighorn sheep
[15].

In the spring, Ross' sedge is highly palatable to black bears.  In the
summer, palatibility for black bears, elk, and sheep is moderate; and
low for deer and cattle.  In the fall Ross' sedge palatability is low
for black bears; in the winter palatability is low for deer and elk
[34].



NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The food value of Ross' sedge is poor for mule deer, white-tailed deer,
and pronghorn, but fair for elk and small mammals [9].  Ross' sedge has
a good to fair forage value for sheep in the Rocky Mountains and
Colorado Basin [15].

In early spring, grasses such as Thurber needlegrass (Stipa
thurberiana), squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa
secunda Presl.), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), and junegrass
(Koeleria cristata) exceed Ross' sedge in protein, phosphorus, calcium,
crude fat, and apparent digestibility.  Crude fiber is high in March for
Ross' sedge.  As the growing season progresses through summer and into
the fall, Ross' sedge increases to surpass the grasses in protein,
calcium, crude fat, and apparent digestibility.  Ross' sedge was highest
in moisture from late July to October.  The calcium-phosphorous ratio is
good during this time (0.5:1) and dry matter disapperance (DMD) was 40
percent in the summer and fall [18].

One year after logging, Ross' sedge increased in crude protein and
continued to increase for 3 more years [7].


COVER VALUE : 
In Wyoming, cover value of Ross' sedge is poor for pronghorn, elk, mule
deer, white-tailed deer, upland game birds, and waterfowl.  For small
mammals and small nongame birds the cover value is fair [9].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Ross' sedge sprouts readily on disturbed sites.  It survived fuel oil
spills in southeastern British Columbia [15], and despite heavy density
losses, Ross' sedge recovered well from log skidding disturbances.  On
disturbed sites that are seeded with grass, Ross' sedge is outcompeted
and less prevalent than on sites that are not seeded [12,26].

Ross' sedge's extensive root system and ability to grow on unstable or
loose material give it good soil-building and erosion-control
capabilities [15].

At campsites, Ross' sedge is not significantly affected by trampling
[6].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Ross' sedge is a persistent, winter-hardy plant that is drought and
browse tolerant [15].  It is one of the most difficult understories to
remove.  One year after removal with a grub hoe, it had reestablished an
extensive root system [3].  Logging practices that disturb soils beyond
a depth of 2 inches (5 cm) destroy the rhizomes of sedges.  On steep
slopes, logging with horses or cable minimize disturbance [12].

Ross' sedge seed is not commercially available.  Splitting and
transplanting the clumps may be effective for establishment.  More
research is needed in this area [15].

Cutting in lodgepole pine and ponderosa pine habitats of which Ross'
sedge is the understory dominant should be restricted to light or
moderate shelterwood.  Partial cutting and minimizing disturbance will
prevent Ross' sedge from increasing, preserve the site, and maintain
diversity [17].

There are no significant pests or diseases of Ross' sedge [15].

Related categories for Species: Carex rossii | Ross' Sedge