Planting Methods for Establishing Native Forbs on the Landscape

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1 Planting Methods for Establishing Native Forbs on the Landscape Alison Whittaker, Danny Summers, Jason Stettler, Jason Vernon Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Great Basin Research Center Scott Jensen Rocky Mountain Research Station Shrub Sciences Laboratory

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3 Questions Can we get these native forbs to grow in a wildland setting? What kind of equipment should we be using to plant seed from these native forbs? How deep should we plant these species? Does soil texture have and effect on planting depth? Can we use these species in large scale restoration projects?

4 Outline Update on the comparison of wildland planting methods of native forbs. Soil texture and planting depth study. Update on the Forb Island Study.

5 What piece of equipment do we use?

6 Planting Methods Aerator Pipe Harrow Ely Chain Truax Rangeland Drill

7 Seed Mix Species Rate (lbs/acre) Seeds/sq.ft. Munro Globemallow Blue Flax Utah Sweetvetch Silvery Lupine Palmer Penstemon Utah Astragalus Arrowleaf Balsamroot Firecracker Penstemon Tapertip Hawksbeard Total

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10 Results

11 Aerator Chain Control Drill Harrow Aerator Chain Control Drill Harrow % Germination 7.0% Germination of Seeded Species by Site 6.0% 5.0% 4.0% 3.0% 2.0% 1.0% 0.0% ASUT BASA CRAC HEBO LILE LUAR PEEA PEPA8 North South

12 % Germination 2.0% Germination and Establishment of Seeded Species 1.5% 1.0% 0.5% 1 Year 2 Years 0.0% Seeded Species

13 Control

14 Aerator

15 Harrow

16 Drill

17 Chain

18 Which piece of equipment should you use? Some success from each piece of equipment with the least amount of success with the drill. Consider your objectives Do you want to remove sagebrush? If so how much? Consider the site potential Is there cheatgrass or other weedy annuals present? How rocky is the site?

19 Soil Texture Planting Depth Study Planting Depths Surface 1 cm 2 cm 3 cm Soil Textures Clay Loam Loam Sandy Loam Loamy Sand

20 Species Cold Stratified Species Heliomeris multiflora var. nevadensis Crepis acuminata Crepis intermedia Ipomopsis aggregata Lomatium nudicaule Balsamorhiza sagitatta Eriogonum heracleoides Penstemon speciosus Penstemon pachyphyllus Enceliopsis nudicaulis Non-Stratified Species Sphaeralcea coccinea Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia Lupinus prunophilus Lupinus sericeus Lupinus arbustus Lupinus argenteus Agoseris grandiflora Agoseris heterophylla Cleome lutea Mentzelia albicaulis

21 % Germination 100% Germination of Non-Stratified Species 80% 60% 40% 20% Surface 1 cm 2 cm 3 cm 0% Species

22 % Mortality 100 Mortality of Non-Stratified Species Surface 1 cm 2 cm 3 cm 0 Species

23 % Germination 100% Germination of Cold Stratified Species 80% 60% 40% 20% Surface 1cm 2cm 3cm 0% Species

24 % Mortality 100 Mortality of Cold Stratified Species Surface 1cm 2cm 3cm 0 Species

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26 %Germination 100% Germination by Soil Type of Non-Stratified Species 80% 60% 40% 20% Clay loam Loam Sandy Loam Loamy Sand 0% Species

27 % Germination 100% Germination by Soil Type of Cold Stratified Species 80% 60% 40% 20% Clay Loam Loam Sandy Loam Loamy Sand 0% Species

28 Aerator Chain Control Drill Harrow Aerator Chain Control Drill Harrow % Germination 7.0% Germination of Seeded Species by Site 6.0% 5.0% 4.0% 3.0% 2.0% 1.0% 0.0% ASUT BASA CRAC HEBO LILE LUAR PEEA PEPA8 North South

29 Forb Island Study

30 N-Sulate Fabric Row cover that is permeable to water and air Allows light penetration Increases soil temperature Increases length of soil moisture availability Hypothesis - Increase seed germination and survival

31 Study Design 4 sites Fountain Green Gordon Creek Lookout Pass Hatch Ranch 2 N-Sulate treatments Covered Uncovered 2 Seed Mixes

32 Seed Mixes Seed Mix 1 Rate Rate Seed Mix 2 Seeds/ft 2 Seeds/ft 2 Linum lewisii 9 Agoseris grandiflora 24 Poa fendleriana 17 Agoseris heterophylla 18 Cleome serrulata 3 Nicotiana attenuata 26 Lupinus argenteus 21 Lomatium nudicaule 25 Sphaeralcea grossularifolia 20 Argemone munita 18 Balsamorhiza sagittata 16 Heliomeris multiflora nevadensis Hedysarum boreale 17 Thelypodium milleflorum 18 Penstemon pachyphyllus 17 Total 122 Total

33 Density (m. sq.) 90 1st Growing Season Plots Uncovered Covered Uncovered Covered Uncovered Covered Mix 1 Mix 2 Control basa3 clse hebo lile luar3 pepa8 agose armu hemun lonu2 niat thmi5

34 Uncovered Covered Uncovered Covered Uncovered Covered Uncovered Covered Density (m. sq.) 70 Germintation by Site Plots agose armu basa3 clse hebo lile lonu2 luar3 niat pepa8 pofe thmi5 Fountain Green Gordon Creek Hatch Ranch Lookout Pass

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37 Uncovered Covered Uncovered Covered Uncovered Covered Density (m. sq.) 40 Second Growing Season Plots agose armu basa3 clse hebo hemun lile lonu2 luar3 niat pepa8 pofe thmi5 Mix 1 Mix 2 Control

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39 Cost vs Benefit Possibility of increase in cheatgrass and other annual species. Price of N-Sulate fabric is approximately $800/acre but it can be used 2 or 3 times. Increased germination of seeded species particularly on drier sites during the first year. Less of a difference the second year. Increased germination of sagebrush.

40 Continued Research and New Questions Continue to monitor equipment comparison study. Can we control the planting depth of the drill so that the native forbs are not being planted too deep and have better success with the rangeland drill? Continue to monitor the Forb Island study to follow establishment. Can we use plateau with N-Sulate fabric to help control germination of cheatgrass and other annuals? Are there other mulches that can improve establishment of native forbs that may be more cost effective than N-Sulate fabric?

41 Acknowledgements Additional funding from the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid Grant W-82-R