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Native Seed Germplasm Study and Development Project

File Language:
English


Details

  • Alternative Title:
    Developing and Implementing Native Seed Germplasm From the Wild for Arid Lands [Title from Cover]
  • Creators:
  • Corporate Creators:
    Institute for Applied Ecology
  • Corporate Contributors:
    New Mexico. Department of Transportation. Research Bureau
  • Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Publication/ Report Number:
    R918031
  • Resource Type:
    Tech Report
  • Geographical Coverage:
    United States
  • Edition:
    Final Report
  • Corporate Publisher:
    New Mexico. Department of Transportation. Research Bureau
  • Abstract:
    This four-year study was designed to address the question “can we improve upon standard seed mixes (commercial seed sources used by NMDOT) by including local sources or alternate sources from less frequently used commercially available species or entirely novel species?” Five 1-acre research sites on DOT and private land near the Lordsburg Playa were secured, and 16 study plots installed at each site. An extensive literature review of 95 species identified species with dust mitigation attributes and suitable to a large-scale restoration study in the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion. Baseline monitoring occurred in October 2019; the site preparation and experimental seeding took place in July 2020; post-seeding monitoring took place in April 2021 and in October 2021. Exceptional drought following the seeding experiment likely impacted restoration success as post-seeding vegetative cover in general was lower than expected at all sites. This poor establishment combined with low replication contributed to low power for finding statistical significance. However, the following results were statistically significant: seed mixes performed better than single-species seedings, target species cover was highest at DOT sites, and Atriplex obovata (mound saltbush), a novel shrub species, was one of the better performing species. Baileya multiradiata and Machaeranthera tanacetifolia tended to be the two most successful species seeded, having high cover in plots where they occurred and potential for higher cover in the future as evidenced by hundreds of healthy seedlings and the fact both species were flowering and setting seed in April and October. Restoration recommendations based on statistical findings, trends, and observations: 1. include Atriplex obovata in seed mixes; 2 increase the seeding rate for Baileya multiradiata, Machaeranthera tanacetifolia, and Bouteloua aristidoides; 3. continue to seed using mixes, rather than single species seedings; 4. continue to use hydromulch to cover seeding treatments; 5. add water harvesting topography during site preparation.
  • Format:
    PDF
  • Funding:
    C06077
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:2102c7613457a41194edcd6f649b005f08faa0e8285f610514eca798639a533f249518f6aa602f07b46b57f06e101c0b0fa1f008ec13f6e0191697f4cf0ca20a
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 2.11 MB ]
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