Planting Guide: Selecting Seed Mixtures for Actively Used Military Lands

12/2/2009

Planting Guide: Selecting Seed Mixtures for Actively Used Military Lands

This Planting Guide is designed to assist military land managers in the Intermountain West of the U.S. to select appropriate seed mixtures for revegetation on active training lands that are resistant to training impacts and invasive plants. The guide breaks down the process into four steps that cover the important aspects of selecting the most adapted seed mixture to meet revegetation goals on actively used lands such as ranges, airfield, and military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) sites. Included in the guide are tables describing appropriate seed mixtures for given soil types, climates, and land usage.

Resistant Germplasms developed under SERDP & ESTCP

To learn more about how to obtain the seeds noted below, contact the Utah Crop Improvement Association (http://www.utahcrop.org) or the Idaho Foundation Seed program (http://www.kimberly.uidaho.edu/fsp).

‘Yakima’ western yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Yakima western yarrow is a multi-origin forb germplasm generated by combining germplasm mostly from the U.S. Army Yakima Training Center (YTC) near Yakima, WA. Western yarrow is an important, abundant forb in the bluebunch wheatgrass–sagebrush plant communities of the Intermountain and Northwest regions of the USA. It is rhizomatous and drought tolerant enabling it to recruit into disturbed areas, and it often competes well with invasive species. Yakima western yarrow is intended for use in rehabilitation and restoration of western U.S. rangelands. It should be particularly useful to help stabilize and add diversity to severely disturbed sites, such as military training lands and after wildfires. (Crop Sci. 46:488–489).

‘Reliable’ Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda)

Sandberg bluegrass is an important understory grass. It is a perennial bunchgrass valuable for soil erosion control, spring livestock and wildlife grazing, and biodiversity. It resists trampling and is often one of the first species to reestablish on sites disturbed by fire, large equipment and vehicles, and animals. Reliable’s intended use is for rehabilitation and restoration of western rangelands. It may be particularly useful as a pioneer plant species on severely disturbed sites, such as military training sites and after wildfires. Reliable Sandberg bluegrass is a multi-origin germplasm assembled to ensure adaptation over a broad range of ecological sites and to provide a source of readily available seed. (Crop Sci. 46:487–488).

‘FirstStrike’ slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus)

FirstStrike slender wheatgrass has improved seedling vigor equal to or greater than currently commercially available cultivars. FirstStrike germinated five days earlier than the cultivar Pryor on three different soil types (sandy loam, loam, and sandy). It has persistence and overall plant vigor in response to drought. This cultivar originated from collections made mostly at Fort Carson, CO. (Journal of Plant Registrations 1:24-25).

‘Recovery’ western wheatgrass (Pascopyum smithii)

Recovery western wheatgrass was developed as a rapidly establishing grass for revegetation of semiarid rangelands in the Intermountain West, Great Basin, and Northern Great Plains regions of the western United States. It is especially intended for revegetation of frequently disturbed rangelands, military training lands, and areas with repeated wildfires. The breeding of Recovery was initiated with an evaluation trial at the Turkey Creek Recreation Area, Fort Carson. (Journal of Plant Registrations 5:1-7).

Demonstration,
Plant Ecology,