Cheating Strategies
by Gene Gade
WHEN
THE STAKES ARE HIGH IN ANY COMPETITION, SOME PLAYERS MAY BE TEMPTED TO CHEAT.
THIS
DOESN'T SCENE LOOK LIKE A LIFE AND DEATH COMPETITION...BUT IT IS...AND NO HOLDS
ARE BARRED.
FOR
ONE THING, THIS COMPETITOR IS SO NOTORIOUS THAT ONE OF IT'S NAMES IS
"CHEAT GRASS."
THIS
IS A WEEDY GRASS, AND ONE OF ITS MAIN STRATEGIES IS TO JUMP THE GUN...TO LEAVE
THE STARTING BLOCKS EARLY AND GET A HEAD START ON ITS COMPETITION. CHEAT GRASS OFTEN GERMINATES IN THE FALL AND
GROWS SLOWLY DURING THE WINTER. AS SOON
AS THE SOIL WARMS, CHEATGRASS RAPIDLY ACCELERATES ITS GROWTH.
EVEN
IN DROUGHT YEARS, THERE IS USUALLY A LITTLE WATER IN THE SOIL RIGHT AFTER SNOW
MELT. THE JUMP START ALLOWS CHEATGRASS TO USE THIS MOISTURE BEFORE
OTHER PLANTS EVEN WAKES UP FROM THEIR
WINTER DORMANT PERIOD.
THE
CHEATER IS AN ANNUAL, MEANING THAT IT COMPLETES ITS LIFE CYCLE AND DIES IN A
SINGLE YEAR. SO, THE CHEATER IS NOT
INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING LARGE ROOTS THAT WILL HOLD SOIL OR LEAVES THAT CAN
FEED ANIMALS. IT'S ONLY INTERESTED IN
PRODUCING A LOT OF SEED. IN THE CASE OF
CHEATGRASS, THOSE SEEDS ARE SPREAD BY GETTING INTO YOUR SOCKS OR THE FUR OF
ANIMALS.
NOW
HERE IS A PLANT THAT WE PREFER. IT'S A PERENNIAL GRASS. NOTE THAT IT PRODUCES A LOT MORE LEAVES THAT
CAN BE USED AS FORAGE BY ANIMALS AND DENSE ROOTS THAT HOLD THE SOIL. THESE SUPERIOR ROOTS AND LEAVES CAN ALLOW
PERENNIALS TO OVERCOME THE CHEATERS
RANGE
AND WILDLIFE MANAGERS ARE LIKE REFEREES AND TRAINERS WHOSE TASK IS TO KEEP THE
PERENNIAL PLANTS HEALTHY SO THAT THE CHEATERS DON'T TAKE OVER THE COMPETITION.
I'M
GENE GADE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.