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What Seeds to Plant in the Great Basin?

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What Seeds to Plant in the Great Basin? R E S E A R C H A R T I C L E ABSTRACT: Restoration in the Great Basin is typically a large-scale enterprise, with aerial, drill, and broadcast seeding of perennial species common after wildfires. Arid conditions and invasive plants are significant barriers to overcome, but relatively simple changes to seeds used for restoration may improve success. Here we summarize: 1) the composition of seed mixes used in recent postfire seed- ings in Nevada, 2) traits that were valued when cultivars and other native seed materials were named and released, and 3) traits that have been demonstrated to increase native perennial grass performance • in invaded systems. A review of 420 seeding treatments on public shrublands in Nevada between 2006 and 2009 indicated that native perennial grasses and native shrubs were most frequently included in these projects, followed by exotic and native forbs, and lastly, exotic perennial grasses. Native perennial What Seeds to Plant grasses made up the bulk of seeds used in these treatments, with multiple species of grasses (average of 3.4 species) typically seeded per treatment, while the richness of other functional groups in seed mixes in the Great Basin? was closer to 1 species per treatment. Traits prioritized in cultivars and native seed material releases included, in order of frequency: forage quality and yield, seed yield, seedling vigor, ability to establish and persist, and drought tolerance, with many other traits mentioned with less frequency. Traits that Comparing Traits had consistent support for improving native perennial grass performance in the field were related to early phenology, small size, and higher root allocation. Further tests to determine which traits improve Prioritized in Native shrub and forb establishment under field conditions could further refine seed source selection, and help maintain diversity in Great Basin systems. Plant Cultivars Index terms: adaptation, native seeds, phenology, postfire seeding, restoration, roots and Releases with INTRODUCTION otic, annual-dominated systems (Davies Those That Promote et al. 2011). Because of the large scale of The shrublands of the Great Basin are many of these efforts, hand-collections of a unique expanse of open lands in the wild seeds cannot meet demand for most Survival in the Field continental United States, comprised of nonwoody species, especially during years millions of hectares of nearly continuous with many fires (Tischew et al. 2011). This and relatively intact native vegetation, places importance on the agronomic suit- 1,2 Elizabeth A. Leger compared to converted and highly altered ability of seeds used in large-scale seedings. systems like the Great Plains and eastern Plants that are amenable to being grown 1University of Nevada, Reno deciduous forests. However, there is wide- and harvested efficiently in an agricultural Department of Natural Resources and spread and increasingly rapid loss of these setting are more likely to be cost-effective Environmental Science communities due to past and present dis- options for practitioners. In addition, many 1664 N. Virginia Street, MS 186 turbances such as intensive grazing, exotic efforts exist to increase the diversity and Reno, NV 89557 plant invasion, and increased frequency of availability of native seeds that can be wildfires (Stewart and Hull 1949; Pellant et increased for restoration (e.g., Tischew et al. 2004; Davies et al. 2011; Chambers et al. 2011; Shaw et al. 2012). Owen W. Baughman1 al. 2013). Maintaining desirable plant com- munities in the face of these disturbances In addition to agronomic considerations, often requires large-scale efforts that use there are other important factors involved immense quantities of seeds. Implementing in acquiring seeds for restoration. Restora- • successful restoration in the Great Basin tion is an opportunity to maintain genetic is challenging, especially in the driest and diversity in native systems, and, to achieve more resource-limited areas (Davies et al. this, selected materials should ideally be 2011; Hardegree et al. 2011; Arkle et al. native species with contemporary ranges 2014). While restoration success may be that overlap the sites needing restoration. 2 Corresponding author: improved through continued research on As local adaptation is common in plants [email protected] plant establishment needs and restoration (Joshi et al. 2001; Leimu and Fischer 2008), methods, the seed sources used in restora- seeded species should originate from areas tion are a fundamental consideration for with similar environmental conditions, fol- any restoration project (e.g., McKay et lowing empirical seed zones (e.g., Johnson al. 2005). et al. 2012; Johnson et al. 2013) or gener- alized seed zones (e.g. Bower et al. 2014) In the Great Basin, an extensive amount when possible to increase the chances Natural Areas Journal 35:54–68 of seeding takes place after wildfire, with that seeds will perform well under abiotic the aim of preventing conversion to ex- conditions present at the site. Additionally, 54 Natural Areas Journal Volume 35 (1), 2015 there should be evidence, or a well-founded 1 to 95). Most treatments were reported comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth) and expectation, that seeds will perform well at from the Elko office (212 treatments), some of the smallest projects. the site, given likely environmental condi- followed by Ely (77), Winnemucca (41), tions, which may include altered soils, the Battle Mountain (33), Jarbidge (20), other Traits Prioritized in Cultivar and presence of invasive weeds (e.g., Leger offices combined that included some out Release Selection 2008), different types of grazing systems, of state offices on cross-state projects (19), or repeated fire. and Carson City (18). Using the Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Materials Program’s list of Balancing all of these considerations – ag- We assessed the frequency of use of seeded Conservation Plants as a starting point, we ronomic suitability, site appropriateness, species in these treatments, separating spe- identified any cultivar or named release and restoration performance – is important cies into three different functional groups: (hereafter, “release”) of nonriparian spe- for selecting plant material of the highest grasses, forbs, and shrubs. We further cies that are native to any part of Nevada, quality and usefulness. Our goal here is differentiated between native and nonna- as well as species native to North America to provide information about three aspects tive species, and tabulated the number of that appeared in our Land Treatment Digi- of the current state of wildland seedings species in each group seeded into each tal Library query of seeded species. We in the Great Basin. First, we summarize treatment. We defined “native” as species searched both the academic literature and information on the frequency and amount indigenous to the Great Basin, even if the the World Wide Web to find a Notice of of seeds used in recent seedings, focusing particular collection was outside Nevada Release or Notice of Naming, as well as on postfire rehabilitation projects, a major state boundaries. Most classifications were any agency-published brochures, for each source of seeding in the Great Basin, which straightforward, but we chose to include release. In the absence of these materials, took place on public US Bureau of Land forage kochia (Bassia prostrata (L.) other published documents discussing re- Management (BLM) lands in Nevada over Schrad.), a subshrub, in the forb category, lease traits were used, such as Plant Guides, a four-year period. Secondly, we present as it has a forb-like growth form under dry conference proceedings, and internal information on traits highlighted in descrip- conditions. Additionally, two species of agency reports. These published materials tions of most of the commercially available blue flax, (Linum perenne L. and L. lewi- were examined and any trait or quality that grass, forb, and shrub cultivars and other sii Pursh) were combined due to frequent was mentioned as important or noteworthy native plant releases commonly used as mislabeling of the L. perenne as L. lewisii in the development and/or selection of seed materials in the Great Basin, gather- (Pendleton et al. 2008), and included in each release was recorded. Some releases ing data from plant release documents and the native forb category. Finally, Snake were cultivars that were bred, selected, plant brochures. Finally, we summarize River wheatgrass (Elymus wawawaiensis or developed with certain traits in mind. information from a series of field and J. Carlson & Barkworth) was included in Other releases were wild collections, cho- greenhouse experiments conducted in our our tabulations as a native grass, though its sen from among other accessions because lab that were designed to discern which native range does not include Nevada. Data they possessed particular desirable traits or phenological and morphological traits in- were included from treatments that were were from particular regions, but without crease perennial native grass performance verified as implemented (84%), planned breeding or selection thereafter. Any traits in disturbed Great Basin systems, and but unverified as implemented (16%), mentioned during either of these processes discuss the fit between these results and or planned but not implemented (<1%). were recorded. current restoration practice. Seeding rates in total pure live seed, or PLS, lbs/acre were not available for every We consolidated related traits
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