INTENSIVE CATTLE GRAZING OF OXEYE DAISY (CHRYSANTHEMUM-LEUCANTHEMUM)

Oxeye daisy has invaded seeded pastures, roadsides, and mountain range lands in western Montana. In 1990, we began a study to: (1) determine use of oxeye daisy and introduced perennial grasses by cattle; (2) det ermine effects of intensive cattle grazing on the number of oxeye dais y seeds in the soil; and (3) assess effects of intensive grazing on ye ar-to-year changes in oxeye daisy and associated perennial grasses. Ca ttle grazed oxeye daisy but much of their impact was from trampling or removing stems. The number of oxeye daisy seeds in the soil seedbank was lower in 1992 than in 1990 in grazed areas, whereas the number was higher in ungrazed areas. Two years of intensive grazing reduced dens ities of oxeye daisy seedlings and rosettes, but did not change densit ies of mature stems. Intensive grazing had minimal impact on the intro duced grasses.