Study Name

Post-Fire Rangeland Fertilization

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Location

Ely, Nevada

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Overview

Following the 2012 Shooting Range Fire, this Nevada rangeland became dominated by cheatgrass—a major wildfire fuel source across the Great Basin. A series of NutraFix® Micronutrient Fertilizer test plots demonstrated significant reductions in invasive annual grasses, including a ~60% cheatgrass decrease, even without reseeding.

Background

This BLM-managed site burned more than a decade ago. After the fire, the landscape was quickly overtaken by dense invasive annual grasses, with only sparse perennial natives remaining. Cheatgrass dominance created:

• Extremely high wildfire risk

• Low-quality forage for wildlife and livestock

• A poor foundation for long-term ecosystem recovery

 

The Great Basin’s arid climate, depleted soils, and historic fire regime make native plant recolonization difficult without additional intervention.

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Problem

Cheatgrass has outcompeted native species across the region, resulting in:

• Increased fire frequency and intensity

• Loss of perennial vegetation

• Reduced wildlife habitat value

• Limited grazing opportunities

• Poor post-fire recovery

 

A new strategy was needed to support perennial vegetation recovery where traditional seeding often fails.

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Site Challenges

Post-fire restoration in the Great Basin faces major obstacles:

• Arid climate and low moisture availability

• Depleted soils with minimal organic matter

• Frequent competition from invasive annual grasses

• Seedbed limitations resulting from past disturbances

• Reliance on aerial seeding, which is often ineffective without soil nutrient support

 

Without improved soil conditions, even costly seeding often underperforms.

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Application Rates and Methods

To evaluate the benefits of nutrient-augmented soil, researchers installed:

October 2023 Test Plots

• Rates: 212, 314, and 424 lbs/acre

• Applied after cheatgrass germination

• Monitored for vegetation response through June 2025

August 2024 Test Plots

• Rates: 212, 314, and 424 lbs/acre

• Applied before cheatgrass germination (~August)

 

All plots were monitored for vegetation cover in June 2025.

Note: No seeding was conducted, isolating NutraFix’s effect on the existing seedbank and vegetation.

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Results: Pre-Germination Application Produced the Strongest Impact

October 2023 Plots

• Increase in native perennial vegetation

• Decrease in cheatgrass by 2025

• Improvements were measurable but less dramatic

August 2024 Plots

• Approximately 60% reduction in invasive annual grasses

• Stable perennial cover (limited by depleted seedbank)

• Stronger treatment response because NutraFix was applied before annual grass germination

 

Key Finding

The side-by-side comparison shows that application timing is critical:

Pre-germination (late summer/early fall) applications produce the greatest cheatgrass suppression.