Restoring Western Ranges and Wildlands
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United States Department of Agriculture Restoring Western Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station General Technical Ranges and Wildlands Report RMRS-GTR-136-vol. 3 September 2004 Volume 3 Chapters 24–29, Appendices, Index Abstract ______________________________________ Monsen, Stephen B.; Stevens, Richard; Shaw, Nancy L., comps. 2004. Restoring western ranges and wildlands. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-136-vol-3. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Pages 699– 884 plus appendices and index. This work, in three volumes, provides background on philosophy, processes, plant materials selection, site preparation, and seed and seeding equipment for revegetating disturbed rangelands, emphasizing use of native species. The 29 chapters include guidelines for planning, conducting, and managing, and contain a compilation of rangeland revegetation research conducted over the last several decades to aid practitioners in reestablishing healthy communities and curbing the spread of invasive species. Volume 3 contains chapters 24-29 plus appendices and index. Keywords: rehabilitation, revegetation, plant ecology, seed, plant communities, wildlife habitat, invasive species, equipment, plant materials, native plants A B A—Hand-harvesting grass seed. B—Certification tag. C—Native plant propagation in greenhouse. D—Brush machine. E—Flail-vac harvesting needle-and thread grass. Restoring Western Ranges and Wildlands Compilers Stephen B. Monsen Volume 3 Richard Stevens Nancy L. Shaw Chapters 24–29, Appendices, Index D C E i The Compilers _____________________________________ Stephen B. Monsen (retired), Botanist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah Richard Stevens, Project Leader (retired), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Great Basin Research Center, Ephraim, Utah Nancy L. Shaw, Research Botanist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, Idaho The Authors _______________________________________ James N. Davis is Project Leader, Big Game Range Trend Program, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah. Sherel K. Goodrich is Ecologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Ashley National Forest, Vernal, Utah. Kent R. Jorgensen was Wildlife Biologist (deceased), Great Basin Research Center, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Ephraim, Utah. Carlos F. Lopez was Soil Scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah. E. Durant McArthur is Project Leader and Research Geneticist, U.S. Department of Agricul- ture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah. Stephen B. Monsen was Botanist (retired), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah. He is currently a private natural resources consultant and volunteer worker for the Rocky Mountain Research Station. David L. Nelson was Plant Pathologist (retired), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah. He continues contractual and volunteer work for the Rocky Mountain Research Station. Nancy L. Shaw is Research Botanist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, Idaho. Richard Stevens was Project Leader (retired), Great Basin Research Center, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Ephraim, Utah. Arthur R. Tiedemann was Project Leader and Range Scientist (retired), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah. John F. Vallentine was Professor (Emeritus), Department of Integrative Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. Gordon A. Van Epps was Associate Professor (retired), Snow Field Station, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Utah State University, Ephraim, Utah. Bruce L. Welch is Plant Physiologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah. Steven G. Whisenant is Professor, Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. G. Richard Wilson was Director (retired), Utah State Seed Laboratory, Utah Department of Agriculture, Salt Lake City, Utah. ii Contents Volume 1: Page Foreword by E. Durant McArthur .............................................................................iii 1. History of Range and Wildlife Habitat Restoration in the Intermountain West .................................................................................. 1 2. The Intermountain Setting ............................................................................ 7 3. Research Background ................................................................................ 15 4. Basic Considerations for Range and Wildland Revegetation and Restoration............................................................................................. 19 5. Restoration or Rehabilitation Through Management or Artificial Treatments ............................................................................... 25 6. Climate and Terrain .................................................................................... 33 7. Assessing Soil Factors in Wildland Improvement Programs ...................... 39 8. Controlling Plant Competition ..................................................................... 57 9. Mechanical Plant Control ........................................................................... 65 10. Herbicides for Plant Control ....................................................................... 89 11. Vegetative Manipulation with Prescribed Burning .................................... 101 12. Seedbed Preparation and Seeding Practices .......................................... 121 13. Incorporating Wildlife Habitat Needs into Restoration and Rehabilitation Projects ......................................................................... 155 14. Nutritive Principles in Restoration and Management ............................... 175 15. Plant Pathology and Managing Wildland Plant Disease Systems ........... 187 16. Management of Restored and Revegetated Sites ................................... 193 17. Guidelines for Restoration and Rehabilitation of Principal Plant Communities ............................................................................... 199 Volume 2: 18. Grasses .................................................................................................... 295 19. Forbs for Seeding Range and Wildlife Habitats ....................................... 425 20. Chenopod Shrubs .................................................................................... 467 21. Composite Shrubs .................................................................................... 493 22. Rosaceous Shrubs ................................................................................... 539 23. Shrubs of Other Families ......................................................................... 597 Volume 3: 24. Seed Collection, Cleaning, and Storage .................................................. 699 25. Shrub and Forb Seed Production ............................................................. 717 26. Seed Germination .................................................................................... 723 27. Seed Testing Requirements and Regulatory Laws .................................. 733 28. Establishing Plants by Transplanting and Interseeding ........................... 739 29. Production and Use of Planting Stock ...................................................... 745 References ............................................................................................... 769 Appendix 1 Scientific/Common Names .................................................... 847 Appendix 2 Common/Scientific Names .................................................... 866 Index .................................................................................................. Index-1 iii Kent R. Jorgensen Richard Stevens Chapter 24 Seed Collection, Cleaning, and Storage Seed Collection __________________________________ Acquisition of quality seed in the quantity needed is essential for successful restoration and revegetation programs. Seed is grown and harvested as a crop, or collected from native stands. In the past, when native species were seeded, it was either collect the seed yourself, or go without. Now, there are dealers who supply seed of many native species on a regular basis. Some seed companies will contract for collection of specific species. There are many grass and forb species that are cultivated for seed. Some of the more common species are: bluebunch wheat- grass, crested and desert wheatgrass, pubescent wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, Russian wildrye, smooth brome, orchardgrass, Indian ricegrass, alfalfa, arrowleaf balsamroot, small burnet, Palmer penstemon, Rocky Mountain penstemon, Lewis flax, cicer milkvetch, crownvetch, Utah sweetvetch, and sainfoin. Seed of a few shrubs, including mountain and Wyoming big sagebrush, fourwing saltbush, and antelope bitterbrush are sometimes produced in orchards. Seed of many shrubs and forbs, and a few grass species are available only from native stands (table 1). USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-136. 2004 699