TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of planting method and seed mix richness on the early stages of tallgrass prairie restoration
AU - Larson, Diane L.
AU - Bright, JB B.
AU - Drobney, Pauline
AU - Larson, Jennifer L.
AU - Palaia, Nicholas
AU - Rabie, Paul A.
AU - Vacek, Sara
AU - Wells, Douglas
PY - 2011/12
Y1 - 2011/12
N2 - Tallgrass prairie restoration has been practiced for more than 75. years, yet few studies have systematically tested restoration methods over large geographic regions with the intent of refining methodology. In this study, we used three planting methods (dormant-season broadcast, growing-season broadcast and growing-season drill) fully crossed with three levels of seed species richness (10, 20, and 34 spp). We replicated the study on nine former agricultural fields located from east-central Iowa (Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge) to northwestern Minnesota (Litchfield, Fergus Falls and Morris Wetland Management Districts), USA, within the northern tallgrass prairie biome. Objectives were to evaluate the relative influences of planting method, seed mix richness, and their interactions, on (1) planted cover (both total and by guild) and richness, (2) exotic species cover, and (3) non-planted native species cover. Optimal techniques varied between the two study areas: the dormant broadcast method produced greater cover of planted species at the Minnesota sites and the growing-season drill method produced greater cover of planted species at Iowa sites. The dormant broadcast method strongly favored establishment of perennial forbs while the growing-season drill favored warm-season grasses. Although increasing richness of the seed mix produced greater planted species richness, this did not result in greater resistance to exotic invasion. We conclude that, if planting during the growing season, drilling seed is preferable to broadcasting, but if the choice is between broadcasting seed in the dormant or growing season, the dormant season is preferred.
AB - Tallgrass prairie restoration has been practiced for more than 75. years, yet few studies have systematically tested restoration methods over large geographic regions with the intent of refining methodology. In this study, we used three planting methods (dormant-season broadcast, growing-season broadcast and growing-season drill) fully crossed with three levels of seed species richness (10, 20, and 34 spp). We replicated the study on nine former agricultural fields located from east-central Iowa (Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge) to northwestern Minnesota (Litchfield, Fergus Falls and Morris Wetland Management Districts), USA, within the northern tallgrass prairie biome. Objectives were to evaluate the relative influences of planting method, seed mix richness, and their interactions, on (1) planted cover (both total and by guild) and richness, (2) exotic species cover, and (3) non-planted native species cover. Optimal techniques varied between the two study areas: the dormant broadcast method produced greater cover of planted species at the Minnesota sites and the growing-season drill method produced greater cover of planted species at Iowa sites. The dormant broadcast method strongly favored establishment of perennial forbs while the growing-season drill favored warm-season grasses. Although increasing richness of the seed mix produced greater planted species richness, this did not result in greater resistance to exotic invasion. We conclude that, if planting during the growing season, drilling seed is preferable to broadcasting, but if the choice is between broadcasting seed in the dormant or growing season, the dormant season is preferred.
KW - Exotic species
KW - Perennial forbs
KW - Restoration methods
KW - Tallgrass prairie
KW - Warm-season grasses
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=83555164855&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=83555164855&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.10.018
DO - 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.10.018
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:83555164855
VL - 144
SP - 3127
EP - 3139
JO - Biological Conservation
JF - Biological Conservation
SN - 0006-3207
IS - 12
ER -