255

PROMISING NATIVE FORBS FOR SEEDING ON MINE SPOILS1

by

Ardell J. Bjugstad2 and Warren C. Whitman3

Abstract. Twenty nine species of perennial forbs and 2 bien- nial forbs were directly seeded into coal mine spoil materials at Dickinson, to determine which species would be most successful for direct seeding into coal mine spoil. Those which showed exceptionally good emergence and vigorous growth of seedlings in a two year study were: white prairie clover (Petalostemum candidurn), wild licorice (Glvcvrrhiza lepidota), prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera), blazing star ( punctata) and long-leaved milkvetch (Astragalus ceramicus). Species with lesser but acceptable germination only were: white upland aster (Aster ptermicoides), purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia), early goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis), green milkvetch (Astragalus striatus), purple prairie-clover (Petalstemum purpureum) and evening star (Metzelia decapetala). Other species tested showed little to no germination and hence difficult to establish by direct seeding into coal mine spoil.

Additional Key Words: forbs, seeding, reclamation, revegetation.

Introduction Other herbaceous include grasses, sedges and rushes. Forbs Forbs are herbaceous or semi- are the most numerous group of woody plants such as fringed sage- plants but are seldom dominant and wort (Artemisia frinida) or winter almost always occur in mixtures. fat (Eurotia lanata) (Stevens 1963, They may be perennials, biennials Thornburg 1982, Wasser 1982). (live two years) or annuals which may be fall or spring annuals i.e., seed germination occur in fall or 1Paper presented at the Confer- spring time of the year. Forbs, due ence on Reclamation, A Global Per- to persistant high level of nutri- spective, Calgary, , Canada, ents, are an important part of the August 28-30, 1989. diet of wildlife, including big game 2Ardell J. Bjugstad is Range animals and birds, and livestock. Scientist, USDA Forest Service, However, they are usually of limited Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Ex- abundance whereby animals need to periment Station, Rapid City, SD select for these forbs in order to 57701. ingest sufficient amounts to supple- 3Warren C. Whitman is Professor ment nitrogen and phosphorous need of Botany, North Dakota State Uni- in the diets (Alexander et al. 1983, versity, Fargo. Peterson 1989). 256

Grazing systems are generally Whitman 1938), (2) determine the focused around the graminoid com- germination of these forbs seeded ponent of the grassland ecosystem in mine spoil material under actual and it is this component that has field conditions, and (3) compare received the greatest attention by the height growth of plants seeded managers and researchers. This has with those propagated by the use of been done with studies which dealt containerized seedlings. with floristics (Peterson 1989), community descriptions (Hanson and Whitman 1938, Hirsch 1985, Girard et Procedures al. 1989), seasonal nutritional com- position of grasses and shrubs Seed collection on native ranges (Whitman et al. 1951, Jefferies and in western North Dakota began as Rice 1969, Williamson 1979), and soon as seed appeared in seed dis- phenology of selected range plants persal stage, usually late June for (Peterson 1989). Results of these cool season forbs and as late as studies show forbs as merely a minor October for warm season forbs (Table component of the environment and 1). The recognition of forbs as added mainly structure, increased with grasses according to season of diversity and enhanced aesthetic growth, ie. cool or warm season, qualities. Forbs were recognized as provides extended periods of growth indicators of range condition and when appropriately mixed to provide mesotrophism (Weaver and Albertson balancing of these species (Thorn- 1943). They were also noted to be burg i982, Wasser 1982). This was the first to take great advantage of recognized in the selection of spe- reduced cover following the great cies used in this study (Table 1). drought of the 1930's (Weaver and Albertson 1944), in other words they The forb seeds were stored in were the pioneers to rehabitate the glass bottles at room temperature site during early successional during the summer, threshed-out by stages. hand rubbing and hand-screening and returned to the glass bottles. Most The forb component and their seeds threshed relatively clean but management remains to be understood some appendages or portions of ap- and described, even though its im- pendages remained attached. This portance was recognized 15 years ago occurred with yarrow (Achillea lanu- (Ferguson and Monsen 1974). This losa), sagewort wormwood (Artemisia problem continues because we do not caudata), white upland aster (Aster know which forbs are most promising ptarmicoides), wild buckwheat (Erio- and the cultural practices required gonum multiceps), butterfly weed or the site conditions most condu- (Gaura coccinea) skeleton weed (Lyg- cive to their establishment. Pre- odesmia juncea) golden aster (Chrys- vious studies indicate severe prob- opsis villosa), the goldenrods (Sol- lems with the germination is a major idago spp.) and goatsbeard (Tragopo- deterant to forb establishment gon dubius). (Blake 1935, Tolstead 1941, McDonough 1969, Sorensen and Holden Three storage treatments were 1974, Voigt 1977). applied to separate lots of the forb seed. These treatments were (1) dry The objectives of the study were storage at room temperature, (2) to (1) determine optimum seed stor- dry-cold storage with seed subjected age and germination environments for to normal outdoor winter temperature 29 species of perennial forbs common fluctuations, and (3) wet-cold stor- in western North Dakota (Hanson and age with moisture weekly monitored 257

Table 1. --List of species collected using the tetrazolium test (Ferguson near Dickinson, North Dakota and Monsen 1974) were germinated on used in experiment on forb es- moist chromatography paper in square tablishment and season of petri dishes. Germination trials of growth. room temperature and cold-dry stored seed were begun on the 9th of Janu- ary and subsequent trials of each Scientific name Season of growth* species thus treated were begun on the approximate same day of the month each month thereafter through Achillea lanulosa C May. Germination trials of the wet- Artemisia caudata W cold treated seed were begun on Jan- Aster ptarmicoides W uary 16 and were continued for the Astragalus ceramicus C rest of the 5-month period beginning Astranalus flexuosus C on the approximate same day of each Astragalus striatus C-W month. The germination period al- Campanula rotundifolia C-W lowed for each trial was 60 days, Chrysopsis villosa W after which the ungerminated seed of Echinacea annustifolia C each trial lot remaining in the pet- Eriogonum multiceps C ri dishes was discarded. Germina- Gaillardia aristata C-W tion was considered to have taken Gaura coccinea C-W place when the radicle appeared, and Glycyrrhiza lepidota C the germinated seeds were removed Helianthus rigidus W from the petri dishes at that time. W Linum lesisii C Germination of pretreated forb Lygodesmia juncea C-W seeds was also tested on spoil Mentzelia decapetala W piles, constructed from raw coal Penstemon annustifolius C spoil material hauled to the Dickin- Petalostemum candidum W son Experiment Station from North Petalostemum purpureum W American Coal Corporation's Indian- Psoralea esculenta C head Mine near Zap, North Dakota. Ratibida columnifera W The sandy clay loam texture and void Solidago missouriensis W of organic matter material was from Solidago mollis W a depth of 9-12 meters (30-40 feet). Solidago rinida W The spoil material was spread to a Sphaeralcea coccinea C depth of 30 cm (14 inches). The sur- Suaeda fruticosa W face was rototilled before seeding. Tragopogon dubius C Vicia americana C Each spoil pile was divided into plots 1.2 x 1.2 m (4 x 4 feet) in size. The seedings were made in two * C=Cool Season, W=Warm Season replications per treatment from each species. Seed was broadcast by hand and added to keep seed maintained in and raked. Application rate was con- moist conditions at approximately 4 sidered to be heavy when compared to C in a refrigerator. The seed sto- seeds of similar size of tested see- rage period began on December 1. ding rates (Thornburg 1982). Plots were seeded the first week of June. All germination trials were con- ducted using a Seedburo Model 3516 Container-grown seedlings used germinator maintained at a tempera- for height growth rate comparison ture of 21 oC. Triplicate lots of were germinated starting the previ- 25 seeds each, tested for viability ous December and transplanted into

259

Other species which showed Table 3. --Estimated number of seed small to moderate benefit from the lings per square meter produced wet-cold storage treatment included in one growing season on mine Aster ptarmicoides, Astragalus cer- spoil plots seeded June 9 and amicus, Chrysopsis villosa, Helian- estimates made in August and thus rigidus, Lygodesmia juncea, listed according to highest Petalostemum candidum Suoeda fruti- number per square meter. cosa, Thermopsis rhombifolia, and Vicia Americana. Achilles lanulosa apparently benefitted from a short period of cold-wet storage, but pro- Species No. seed- longed storage under these condi- lings/m2 tions appeared to be detrimental.

From the results of this germi- nation trial the requirement for a Astranalus striatus 356 cold treatment before most of the Petalostemum candidum 335 forbs will show satisfactory germi- Mentzelia decapetala 302 nation rates seems to be somewhat in Tragopogon dubius 280 doubt. This requirement may be re- Glvcvrrhiza lepidota 248 lated to previous seasonal growing Liatris punctata 204 conditions and the conditions under Astragalus ceramicus 140 which the seed matured. In a normal Petalostemum purpureum 140 field situation, most forb seed will Chrysopsis villosa 97 receive either a dry-cold or a wet- Linum lewisii 43 cold treatment during the winter Echinacea annustifolia 32 after the seed is produced. Whether Astragalus flexuosus 21 this treatment is essential during Solidago mollis 21 storage before direct seeding into Sphaeralcea coccinea 21 mine spoil for satisfactory germina- Thermopsis rhombifolia 11 tion now seems somewhat doubtful. Ratibida columnifera 11 Aster ptarmicoides 11 Germination of the 29 forb spe- Eriogonum multiceps 11 cies direct seeded on the mine spoil Achillea lanulosa T* took place over a relatively long Artemisia caudata T period of time. Twenty-three spe- Solidago missouriensis T cies showing some germination and Gaillardia aristata T seedling emergence within 120 days, Gaura coccinea T by the end of August (Table 3). Six Penstemon angustifolius 0 species that did not germinate under Solidago rigida 0 natural mine spoil conditions were: Helianthus rinidus 0 Penstemon angustifolius, Solidago Campanula rotundifolia 0 rigida, Helianthus rinidus, Cam- Suaeda fruticosa 0 panula rotundifolia, Suaeda frutico- Lvgodesmia juncea 0 sa and Lygodesmia juncea, The spe- cies that showed exceptionally good emergence of seedlings and subse- *T = Seedlings present but quent vigorous growth included: Pet- averaging less than 1/m2. alostemum candidum, Glycyrrhiza lep- idota, Ratibida columnifera, Liatris punctata, and Astragalus ceramicus. cessfully transplanted and height growth measurements on the unheaded Fourteen species of the con- stalks were taken (Table 4). These tainer-grown seedlings were suc- transplants were started from seed 260 in December and transplanted into of the same species grown directly the spoil in June. All container from seed. However, the plants grown seedlings survived transplant- grown directly from seed did remark- ing and grew successfully on the ably well with four producing flower spoil material until heights were stalks by August 30 of the first measured on August 30 (Table 4). growing season (Table 5). Con- Solidago ridida, Mentzelia, Campanu- tainer-grown seedlings of the same la, Liatris, and Penstemon remained species produced flower stalks of in the rosette growth form through- similar heights the first growing out the season. In this form they season. appeared vigorous and developed well but did not make height growth. Numerous newly emerged seed- Those species which grew the most lings from the previously direct included the two Petalostemum seeded forbs were observed the fol- species, Ratibida, Glvcyrrhiza. lowing June. Seedlings from pre- vious year planted seeds were Some seedlings and transplants especially abundant on plots of Sol- grew more vigorously than others idago mollis, Mentzelia decapetala, (Table 4). In general the trans- Thermopsis rhombifolia, Helianthus plants of the species reached rigidus, Penstemon angustifolus, greater heights by the end of first Aster ptarmicoides, and Echinacea growing season than did the plants angustifolia. The inference is that

Table 4. --Average heights of plants, seeded and container-grown transplants in mine spoil material at Dickinson, North Dakota at end of first growing season.

Average Height (cm)

Species Seeded Container

Suaeda fruticosa 19 1.31 ± 1.3 1 -- 3 Glvcvrrhiza lepidota 17 ± 0.4 15 ± 2.4 Astragalus ceramicus 16 ± 3.8 -- Petalostemum candidum 10 ± 2.6 34 ± 1.2 Artemisia caudata 62 -- Mentzelia decapetala 62 9 ± 1.7 Liatris punctata 5 ± 1.9 3 ± 0.8 Echinacea annustifolia 5 ± 0.0 3 ± 0.8 Thermopsis rhombifolia 5 ± 0.0 10 ± 1.7 Astranalus striatus 52 2 ± 0.0 Ratibida columnifera 4 ± 0.6 25 ± 3.9 Aster ptarmicoides 4 ± 0.0 11 ± 0.6 Eriogonum multiceps 2 ± 0.0 -- Solidago rigida 2 ± 0.0 11 ± 1.0 Helianthus rigidus 1 12 ± 4.0 Solidago missouriensis 1 -- Campanula rotundifolia -- 4 ± 1.6 Penstemon angustifolia -- 5 ± 0.9

1± standard error. 2± mean per plot, no replication. 3 Not included. 261

Table 5. End of growing season average heights of flower stalks Campanula rotundifolia, Eriogonum developed on container transplants and on plants seeded on mine spoil material at the Dickinson Station. multiceps, Gaura coccinea, Lygodes- mia iuncea, Psoralea esculenta, and Average flower stalk height (cm) Sphaeralcea coccinea. Those peren- sSpecpe ies Container Seeded nial forbs which demonstrated excep- tional promise for direct seeding in Petalostemum purpureum 20 25 seed mixtures on mine spoils were: Petalostemum candidum 24 31 Helianthus rigidus - 50 Petalostemum candidum, Ratibida col- Ratibida Columnifera 17 29 umnifera, Glvcyrrhiza lepidota, Lia- Thermopsis rhombifolia 25 - tris punctata and Astragalus cera- micus. seed will lie dormant for several years and overwintering under natur- al conditions will promote germina- Literature Cited tion and emergence of seedlings from previously dormant seed. The fall Alexander, Lynn E., Daniel W. Uresk, rains and winter conditions on the and Richard M. Hansen. 1983. northern Great Plains would provide Summer food habits of domestic a wet-cold treatment. sheep in southeastern . J. Range Manage. 36(3):307-308.

Summary and Conclusions Bjugstad, Ardell J., and Warren C. Whitman. 1982. Perennial forbs Thirty one species of highly for wildlife habitat restoration valued forbs on the northern Great on mined lands in the northern Plains were selected for evaluations Great Plains. In: Proceedings as to their suitability for seeding of the Annual Conference of the on coal mine spoils in North Dakota. Western Association of Fish and Two biennials, Artemisia caudata and Wildlife Agencies. July 18-22, Tragopogon dubius, were included due 1982, Las Vegas, Nevada. 622 p. to their high visibility and avail- ability of seed to reclamation spe- Blake, Abigail K. 1935. Viability cialists. All thirty one species and germination of seeds and showed some germination under all early life history of prairie treatments. However, germination of plants. Ecol. Mong. 5:405-460. Chrysopsis villosa, Ratibida colum- nifera, Solidago missouriensis, S. Ferguson, Robert B., and S. B. rigida, Aster ptarmicoides, and Monsen. 1974. Research with Mentzelia decapetala was increased containerized shrubs and forbs when receiving the dry-cold treat- in southern Idaho. Proc. N. Am. ment compared to storage at room Containerized For. Tree Seedling temperature. The wet-cold storage Symp. Grt. Plains Agr. Coun. treatment was beneficial to Mentzel- Pub. No. 68. Agriculture and ia decapetala and Penstemon angus- Natural Resources, University of tifolius. Therefore, these species , Lincoln. pp 340-358. should be fall seeded, or if placed in dry winter storage the proper Girard, Michele, M., Harold Goetz, treatment should be applied for and Ardell J. Bjugstad. 1989. maximizing germination prior to Native woodland habitat types of spring seeding. Species tested southwestern North Dakota. USDA which had special germination prob- For. Serv. Research Paper RM- lems requiring further investigation 281. Rocky Mountain Forest and include Achillea lanulosa, Astragal- Range Experiment Station, Rapid us ceramicus, Astragalus flexuosus, City, , SD. 36 P. 262

Hanson, H. C. and W. C. Whitman. regions. SCS-TP-157. Superin- 1938. Characteristics of major tendent of Documents, U.S. grassland types in western Government Printing Office, North Dakota. Ecol. Monogr. 8: Washington, DC 20402. 88 p. 57-114. Tolstead, W. L. 1941. Germination Hirsch, Kathie Jean. 1985. Habitat habits of certain sand-hill type classification of grass- plants in Nebraska. Ecology lands and shrublands of south 22:393-397. western North Dakota. Ph.D. Voigt, John W. 1977. Seed germina- Thesis. North Dakota State tion of true prairie forbs. J. Univ., Fargo. 281 p. Range Manage. 30(6):439-441.

Jefferies, N. W., and R. W. Rice. Wasser, Clinton H. 1982. Ecology 1969. Nutritive value of clip and culture of selected species ped and grazed range forage sam- useful in revegetating disturbed ples. J. Range Manage. 22:192- land in the West. FWS/OBS-82/56 195. Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, McDonough, Walter T. 1969. Washington, DC 20402. 347 P. Seedling growth of ten species from subalpine rangeland in Utah Weaver, J. E., and F. W. Albertson. as affected by controlled diur 1943. Resurvey of grasses, nal temperature alternations. forbs and underground plant Am. Midl. Nat. 82:276-279. parts at the end of the great drought. Ecological Monographs Peterson, Kevin R. 1989. Forage 14(4):63-117. quality of key species in northwestern . MS. Whitman, W. C., D. W. Bolin, E. W. Thesis. South Dakota State Klosterman, H. J. Klosterman, K. Univ., Brookings. 97 p. D. Ford, L. Moomaw, D. G. Hoag, and M. L. Buchanan. 1951. Car Sorensen, J. T., and D. G. Holden. otene, Protein, and Phosphorus 1974. Germination of native in range and tame grasses in prairie forb seeds. J. Range western North Dakota. North Manage. 27:123-126. Dakota Agric. Expt. Sta. Bul. 370, North Dakota State Univ., Stevens, 0. A. 1963. Handbook of Fargo. 55 p. North Dakota plants. N.Dak. Inst. for Regional Studies, Williamson, R. L. 1979. Seasonal Fargo, ND. 324 p. variations in the nutrient qual- ities of nine selected shrubs of Thornburg, Ashley A. 1982. Plant North Dakota. MS. Thesis. materials for use on surface- North Dakota State University, mined land in arid and semiarid Fargo. 180 p.