VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Scirpus acutus | Hardstem Bulrush 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Hardstem bulrush herbage production is high, but forage value is low.
It is seldom grazed by livestock if other forage is available [29].  If
upland forage becomes limited and soil conditions dry, livestock and big
game animals may utilize hardstem bulrush [4,29,30].

Hardstem bulrush is a staple food for muskrat [4] and other small
mammals [29,38].  Seeds are eaten by passerines and waterfowl [4,29,38].
In California hardstem bulrush comprised 26 percent of American coot
diets [3].


PALATABILITY : 
Hardstem bulrush palatability is rated as poor for sheep and fair for
cattle and horses [90].  


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Hardstem bulrush nutritional values are rated as follows [4,90]:

                           UT        WY        MT        ND

elk                       poor      poor      poor      ----
mule deer                 poor      poor      fair      poor
white-tailed deer         ----      poor      poor      poor
pronghorn                 poor      poor      ----      poor
upland game birds         poor      fair      good      poor
waterfowl                 good      good      good      good
small nongame birds       fair      good      good      fair
small mammals             good      good      fair      ----

Energy rating is fair and protein content is poor [4,90].  In-vitro dry
matter digestibility, crude protein, and phosphorus levels decrease
linearly from late spring to late summer [42].  


COVER VALUE : 
Hardstem bulrush cover values are rated as follows [4,90]:

                            UT       WY       MT       ND

upland game birds          good     good     good     good
waterfowl                  good     good     good     good
small nongame birds        good     good     good     good
small mammals              good     good     fair     fair

Hardstem bulrush provides valuable nesting cover and escape cover for a
variety of passerines and waterfowl throughout its range [4,6,14,29,33].
In the prairie pothole region hardstem bulrush is preferred nesting
cover for redhead and canvasback hens [71].  In Utah hardstem bulrush is
important heron and egret nesting cover [7].  In Montana muskrat uses
hardstem bulrush in hut construction [4].  


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Hardstem bulrush erosion control and short-term and long-term
revegetation potential are rated as medium [4,90].  Hardstem bulrush
buffers wind and wave action on lakes and ponds, which may enhance the
establishment of vegetation along shorelines [38].  In California 1.6
foot (0.5 m) segments of hardstem bulrush rhizomes were transplanted in
a tidal zone for erosion control in October 1978.  Hardstem bulrush
survival rate was 4 percent in February 1979 [83].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
In Montana waterfowl managers often attempt to increase the proportion
of the hardstem bulrush dominance type relative to the common cattail
dominance type as a means of improving habitat [29,38].  Consumption of
hardstem bulrush by waterfowl and muskrats may decrease aboveground
standing biomass [66].  Hardstem bulrush may be replaced by cattail
(Typha spp.) in continuously flooded marshes following drawdown [34].
However, during years of drought coupled with heavy livestock grazing,
hardstem bulrush may increase at the expense of common cattail [92].  In
northern prairie wetlands hardstem bulrush replaces river bulrush and
sedges under intensive grazing [40].

Miller [49] suggests that hardstem bulrush may be reduced in some ponds
or fields where it dominates by draining the water off and then letting
drought conditions desiccate plants; mowing and burning following
drainage are recommended.  Generally it is necessary to plow and summer
fallow the area for one season for best results.

Hardstem bulrush is used in artificial wetlands to filter agricultural
wastewater [38].  

Related categories for Species: Scirpus acutus | Hardstem Bulrush