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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #313998
Title: Seed enhancement technologies for restoring native plants in the Great Basin

Author
item Madsen, Matthew
item Hulet, April
item SVEJCAR, LAUREN - Oregon State University
item Davies, Kirk
item Boyd, Chad
item Svejcar, Anthony

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/28/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The success rates on rangeland seeding projects with native species in the arid regions of the western United States are unacceptably low and predicted to further decline with climate change increasing aridity and more erratic precipitation. Seed enhancement technologies allow for the physical manipulation and application of materials to the seed that can modify germination timing, emergence capability, and/or early seedling growth. In our presentation we will examine some of the major limiting factors impairing seedling establishment in the Great Basin’s sagebrush steppe ecosystem, and demonstrate how seed enhancement technologies may be employed to overcome these restoration barriers. We will discuss specific technologies for: 1) altering the timing of seed germination, 2) increasing soil water availability, 3) enhancing seedling emergence in crusting soil, 4) improving plantability and emergence of small seeded species, 5) enhancing seed coverage of broadcasted seeds, and 6) protecting seedlings from pre-emergent herbicides. Concepts and technologies in this presentation for restoring the sagebrush steppe ecosystem may apply generally to semi-arid and arid rangelands around the globe.