VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Carex rostrata | Beaked Sedge 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
In the Hudson Bay region and other riparian areas, beaked sedge is an
important component of valuable breeding and feeding grounds for geese
and other waterfowl [43].  Birds that are commonly associated with
beaked sedge habitats are:  mallard, green-winged teal, common
yellowthroat, red-winged black bird, song sparrow, and tree swallow
[11].  Beaked sedge stands are usually more important as feeding grounds
than as nesting grounds because of their low stature, structural
diversity, and high water levels [46].

Beaked sedge is eaten by horses and cattle late in the season [46].
Beaked sedge and water sedge (Carex aquatilis) make up 70 to 80 percent
of winter forage for bison in Canada [4].  Beaked sedge stands are often
grazed by elk and moose when awned sedge (C. atherodes) and inflated
sedge (C. vesicaria) are present [16,18].  Rhizomes of beaked sedge are
important early and late winter food, and foliage an important summer
forage for reindeer in northern Ontario [1].


PALATABILITY : 
Palatability of beaked sedge varies seasonally.  Beaked sedge provides
good forage in the spring but becomes tough during the summer; however,
palatability in riparian areas is higher late in the growing season.
Elk consume beaked sedge late in the season [17,19].  Frosts or hard
freezes on upper elevation meadows make forage unpalatable in the fall
[8].

In Iceland, beaked sedge is excellent forage for cattle, which will wade
deep into the water to reach it.  Beaked sedge is widespread in Siberia
as aquatic forage and is highly rated as browse [19,23].

Palatability of beaked sedge has been rated as follows [10,17]:

                     CO       MT       ND       UT       WY
Cattle              fair     fair     good     good     fair
Sheep               fair     fair     fair     fair     poor
Horses              fair     good     good     good     fair
Elk                 ----     fair     ----     ----     ----
Mule deer           ----     fair     ----     ----     ----
White-tailed deer   ----     poor     ----     ----     ----
Pronghorn           ----     poor     ----     ----     ----
Upland game birds   ----     fair     ----     ----     ----
Waterfowl           ----     fair     ----     ----     ----
Small nongame birds ----     good     ----     ----     ----
Small mammals       ----     good     ----     ----     ----


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Beaked sedge is rated fair in energy and poor in protein value [18].
Plants growing in riparian areas are generally higher in nutritive
quality than plants in upland communities [24].  The fresh, aerial part
of beaked sedge contains 166.9 mg/kg carotene and a vitamin A equivalent
of 278.2 IU/g [35].  The leaf cells are high in silica [31].  A study
was conducted on beaked sedge from June to October for 4 years.  The
results given below are from a favorable-growth year [3].

                               June                 October
Calcium:Phosphorous Ratio      1.4:1                 2.6:1
Moisture (%)                    5.46                  4.99
Crude Protein (%)              14.69                  6.36
Crude Fiber (%)                26.70                 31.80
Ether Extract (%)               2.96                  2.02
Nitrogen-Free Extract (%)      42.70                 46.54

The overall calcium-phosphorous ratio was good.  Carotene was highest in
July.  Years of good precipitation resulted in increased moisture
content and carotene levels [3].


COVER VALUE : 
Beaked sedge forms a dense sod on streambanks which when undercut
provides good shade and cover for salminoids [27,17].

The degree to which beaked sedge provides environmental protection for
wildlife species has been rated as follows [10]:

                           UT        MT        ND
Elk                       poor      ----      ----
Mule deer                 poor      ----      ----           
Pronghorn                 poor      ----      ----
Upland game birds         fair      poor      ----
Waterfowl                 fair      poor      good
Small nongame birds       fair      fair      ----
Small mammals             good      fair      ----


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Beaked sedge has a high potential for biomass production and long-term
revegetation, and medium potential for erosion control and short-term
revegetation [18].  Its establishment requirements are medium to high
[10].

In Iceland, sedge meadows often result from irrigating hummocky moorland
and fens, which become level within a period of 5 years [23].

Beaked sedge sod rapidly recolonizes disturbed sites by rhizome
expansion.  Its rhizomes form a dense network that are effective in
stabilizing streambanks [18] and preventing soil erosion [27].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Eskimos eat the lower part of beaked sedge [21]. 


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Beaked sedge can withstand moderate grazing.  When cut to a height of
0.6 inch (1.5 cm) to simulate grazing, productivity was least affected
by late season cuts [40].  Beaked sedge sod is resistant to trampling by
livestock and moose [22,27].

Beaked sedge can withstand moderate trailing and recreational use [17].
To reduce pack and saddle stock grazing impact, use should be minimized
until after senescence (late September and October) [40].  On wet soils,
hikers and packstock often create multiple or parallel trails, resulting
in severe rut formation.  Off-road vehicle use results in serious
long-term damage to beaked sedge communities.  To prevent this, roads
should be maintained, and off-road travel should be discouraged.  New
trails near sedge meadows should be constructed on adjacent uplands
[18].

Overuse by livestock may cause other species to become codominant with
beaked sedge [27].  Sedges respond satisfactorally to traditional
grazing systems designed for upland species.  In areas adjacent to
streams, residual cover filters sediments from fall rains and spring
runoff.  Cattle should be excluded for at least 30 days to allow
sufficient residual cover growth [18].  Stands of beaked sedge protected
from livestock use more than doubled in standing phytomass in 1 year
[24].

Beaked sedge is tolerant of extreme water level fluctuation in
reservoirs used for hydroelectric power, although shoot size is
affected.  Beaked sedge is vulnerable to aphid infestation in Sweden
[22].  In some parts of Canada, beaked sedge is a common hay source
[37].

Related categories for Species: Carex rostrata | Beaked Sedge