Methods of improving soil health, growth and vigor of perennial grass communities

Abstract

This invention provides low-dose, low-concentration formulations of phytotoxic trace inorganic compounds for use in methods and systems for selectively and effectively controlling invasive plants.

1 . A method for controlling the growth of invasive plant species in an existing perennial grass community comprising applying boron to an area of the existing perennial grass community to achieve a soluble boron concentration in the soil of the existing perennial grass community from about 0.5 milligrams per liter to about 50 milligrams per liter, wherein the growth of the invasive plant species is controlled. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said invasive plant species is one or more of the plants selected from the group consisting of cheatgrass, dandelion, and spotted knapweed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said invasive plant species is cheatgrass. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said boron application produces a soil soluble boron concentration of about 5.0 milligrams per liter to about 15.0 milligrams per liter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the applied boron is a boron-containing compound. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said applied boron is a dry product. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the area of the existing perennial grass community is a rangeland or disturbed land. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the boron is applied prior to germination or to young germinating plants of the invasive plant species. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling the growth of at least one invasive plant species at a locus to be treated comprising the steps of:
 a) determining an invasive plant species to be controlled in an existing perennial grass community;   b) measuring the soluble boron concentrations in the soil of the existing perennial grass community;   c) applying boron to an area of the existing perennial grass community to achieve a soluble boron concentration in the soil of the existing perennial grass community from about 0.5 milligrams per liter to about 50 milligrams per liter.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said invasive plant species is one or more of the plants selected from the group consisting of cheatgrass, dandelion, and spotted knapweed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said invasive plant species is cheatgrass. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said boron application produces a soil soluble boron concentration of about 5.0 milligrams per liter to about 15.0 milligrams per liter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the applied boron is a boron-containing compound. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said applied boron is a dry product. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the area of the existing perennial grass community is a rangeland or a disturbed land. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the boron is applied prior to germination or to young germinating plants of the invasive plant species. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the uppermost about 1 inch of soil achieves a soluble boron concentration of 0.5 milligrams per liter to about 50 milligrams per liter. 
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling the growth of invasive plant species in an existing perennial grass community comprising applying boron to an area of the existing perennial grass community to achieve a soluble boron concentration in the soil of the existing perennial grass community from about 0.5 milligrams per liter to about 50 milligrams per liter in the uppermost about 1 inch of soil. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said invasive plant species is one or more of the plants selected from the group consisting of cheatgrass, dandelion, and spotted knapweed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said invasive plant species is cheatgrass. 
     
     
         21 . A method for controlling the growth of invasive plant species in an existing perennial grass community comprising applying copper to an area of the existing perennial grass community to achieve a soluble copper concentration in the soil of the existing perennial grass community from about 0.1 milligrams per liter to about 50 milligrams per liter, wherein the growth of the invasive plant species is controlled. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said invasive plant species is one or more of the plants selected from the group consisting of cheatgrass, dandelion, and spotted knapweed. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said invasive plant species is cheatgrass. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said copper application produces a soluble soil copper concentration of about 0.1 milligrams per liter to about 10 milligrams per liter. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the applied copper is a copper-containing compound. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said applied copper is a dry product. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the area of the existing perennial grass community is a rangeland or disturbed land. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the copper is applied prior to germination or to young germinating plants of the invasive plant species. 
     
     
         29 . A method of controlling the growth of at least one invasive plant species at a locus to be treated comprising the steps of:
 a) determining an invasive plant species to be controlled in an existing perennial grass community;   b) measuring the soluble copper concentrations in the soil of the existing perennial grass community;   ) applying copper to an area of the existing perennial grass community to achieve a soluble copper concentration in the soil of the existing perennial grass community from about 0.1 milligrams per liter to about 50 milligrams per liter.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said invasive plant species is one or more of the plants selected from the group consisting of cheatgrass, dandelion, and spotted knapweed. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said invasive plant species is cheatgrass. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said copper application produces a soluble soil copper concentration of about 0.1 milligrams per liter to about 10 milligrams per liter. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the applied copper is a copper-containing compound. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said applied copper is a dry product. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the area of the existing perennial grass community is a rangeland or a disturbed land. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the copper is applied prior to germination or to young germinating plants of the invasive plant species. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the uppermost about 1 inch of soil achieves a soluble copper concentration of 0.1 milligrams per liter to about 10 milligrams per liter. 
     
     
         38 . A method for controlling the growth of invasive plant species in an existing perennial grass community comprising applying copper to an area of the existing perennial grass community to achieve a soluble copper concentration in the soil of the existing perennial grass community from about 0.1 milligrams per liter to about 50 milligrams per liter in the uppermost about 1 inch of soil. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said invasive plant species is one or more of the plants selected from the group consisting of cheatgrass, dandelion, and spotted knapweed. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said invasive plant species is cheatgrass.