Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) is currently and historically has been
a serious point of contention among a wide variety of people interest
ed in sagebrush (Artemisia)/bunchgrass rangelands, Nowhere are these d
ifferences more apparent than in the scientific community, Our purpose
is to provide a historical perspective of the influence of cheatgrass
invasion on western rangelands (1930-1950), This was a period of awak
ening interest by range scientists, Range managers, the livestock indu
stry, and scientists have always had a love-hate relationship with che
atgrass, It provides the bulk of the forage on many ranges, yet it is
the symbol of environmental degradation, Trying to cope with the endle
ss ramifications of cheatgrass invasion, dominance, persistence, and p
otential community decline keep forcing scientists to critically evalu
ate the ecological principles upon which range management is based.