Sahara Mustard Management at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California

Sahara Mustard Management at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California

Category: Research Poster

Author(s): Jordyn Lowe

Presenter(s): Jordyn Lowe

Mentors(s): Christina Herron-Sweet, Cole Crossett

Managing invasive species spread is one of the most pressing issues for the American West in the 21st century. Sahara mustard, or Brassica tournefortii, is a quick-growing mustard species native to the Middle East and Mediterranean regions. At Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert in Southern California, Sahara mustard is one of the most prevalent invasive species. To minimize invasive species spread, management areas were split into 50 by 50-acre cells, surveyed, and treated with a pre-emergent herbicide blend. The analysis determined whether or not management has decreased percent cover of Sahara mustard, and if rainfall in the previous year is a viable indicator of predicting the following year’s growth. Data was analyzed in Excel and ArcGIS Pro to answer these questions. Based on preliminary results, cells treated multiple treatment cycles in a row had a trace to none percent cover, and in 2025, all cells were within the 1-5% and trace (<1%) percent cover. Additionally, there appears to be some correlation between rainfall in the rainy season (October to March) and percent cover. Since management is successfully decreasing Sahara mustard percent cover, it should be evaluated how the amount of active ingredient in the herbicide mix changes percent cover in a yearly analysis.