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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310536
Title: Seed enhancement technologies for overcoming barriers to restoration

Author
item Madsen, Matthew
item Hulet, April
item Davies, Kirk
item Boyd, Chad
item BADRAKH, TURMANDAKH - Brigham Young University
item KERBY, JAY - Nature Conservancy
item ROUNDY, BRUCE - Brigham Young University
item Svejcar, Anthony

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2014
Publication Date: 1/30/2015
Citation: Madsen, M.D., Hulet, A., Davies, K.W., Boyd, C.S., Badrakh, T., Kerby, J.D., Roundy, B.A., Svejcar, A.J. 2015. Seed enhancement technologies for overcoming barriers to restoration[Abstract]. Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts.January 30- February 7, 2015. 1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rangelands occupy over a third of global land area, and in many cases are in less than optimum condition as a result of past land use, invasive species, climate change, catastrophic wildfire or other disturbances. Often the only means of restoring these lands involves seeding desirable species, yet there are few cost effective seeding technologies, especially for the more arid rangeland types. The inability to consistently establish native plants from seed may indicate that the seeding technologies being used are not successful in addressing the primary sources of mortality in the progression from seed to established plant. 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 North America’s sagebrush steppe ecosystem, and demonstrate how seed enhancement technologies can be employed to overcome these restoration barriers. We 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.