Author: Larson, Diane L.; Bright, J. B.; Drobney, Pauline; Larson, Jennifer L.; Palaia, Nicholas; Rabie, Paul A.; Vacek, Sara; Wells, Douglas
Description: 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.
Subject headings: Restoration methods; Tallgrass prairie; Exotic species; Warm-season grasses; Perennial forbs
Publication year: 2011
Journal or book title: Biological Conservation
Volume: 144
Issue: 12
Pages: 3127-3139
Find the full text: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711003879
Find more like this one (cited by): https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=2152972903285033360&as_sdt=1000005&sciodt=0,16&hl=en
Serial number: 3832