VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Artemisia rigida | Stiff Sagebrush 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
NO-ENTRY


PALATABILITY : 
Stiff sagebrush is highly palatable to wildlife and livestock; the
flowering heads are particularly palatable [10].  This shrub is heavily
browsed by big game animals in winter even though the protein content is
relatively low [9].  Livestock consume stiff sagebrush when grass forage
is not abundant, and it is preferred by elk [5].

Stiff sagebrush is grazed primarily in late fall and early winter,
although sage grouse prefer it in the summer [11].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
In the winter and spring when soil moisture is high and there is little
protection from surface runoff, trampling damage is severe [8].  Soils
are also subjected to frost heaving or frost boles, making successful
grass seeding highly improbable [6].

Because of the shallow rocky soils associated with stiff sagebrush, a
control program would not be beneficial.  The most commonly associated
grass species, Sandberg bluegrass, would not be able to utilize the
additional soil moisture that would result from sagebrush removal, and
reseeding with wheatgrass (Agropyron spp.) would not be economical due
to the nature of the soils [9].  Stiff sagebrush should not be sprayed
because it is palatable to game and livestock and it reduces wind speed
over the shallow soil surface [7].  Reduction in cover would increase
thermal stress for small animals [6].

Although an increase in forage yield may not justify treatment costs,
severely disturbed sites do need attention.  A program designed to
provide an open stand of sagebrush with a scattered understory of native
herabaceous species has been suggested [9].

Related categories for Species: Artemisia rigida | Stiff Sagebrush