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www.tallgrassprairiecenter.org
Elements of an Ecologically Designed Seed Mix for Tallgrass Prairie Plantings
National Native Seed Conference, Washington DC 2017
Greg Houseal | Tallgrass Prairie Center | University of Northern Iowa
www.tallgrassprairiecenter.org Iowa Prairie Seed Calculator - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
www.tallgrassprairiecenter.org Iowa Prairie Seed Calculator - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Elements of an Ecologically Designed Seed Mix for Tallgrass Prairie Plantings National Native Seed Conference, Washington DC 2017 Greg Houseal | Tallgrass Prairie Center | University of Northern Iowa www.tallgrassprairiecenter.org Iowa
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Seed Mix Design Fundamentals
(Iowa Prairie Seed Calculator)
- 160 species
- Commercially available, appropriately sourced
- Balance of plant guilds
- Match to soils (hydrology), geographic
distribution (species range), full sun
- Base Seed Rate for mixes = 40 seeds/ft2
- ~ 50:50 Graminoid:Forb(+ legumes)
- Success = 1 established plant/ft2
(<10% of seed establishes)
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140-160 Total 91 forbs 15 sedges 12 legumes 10 warm grass 9 cool grass 3 shrub
Iowa Source Identified species by guild (ICIA 1994-2015)
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Balance of Functional Guilds in Calculator
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Species and Seeding Rates for Guilds by Hydrology – Diversity Mix
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Relationship of seeding rate to establishment
#plants/linear foot
Launchbaugh and Owensby. 1970. Seeding Rate and First-Year Stand Relationship for Six Native Grasses, JRM Vol 23 No 6 1970
Seeding rate/linear foot (equates with cost) 0 4 1 2 3 6 10 8 % establishment 10 %
Big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii
10 5 1 20 % 30 % seeding rate
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Fischbach et al. 2006. Seeding rate affects establishment of native perennial legumes in the upper midwestern US, NPJ Spring 2006
Seeding rate/ft2 (equates with cost) 0 1. 3 6. 3 12. 5 5 2 5 10 5 1 % e s t a b l i s h m e n t 10 % 20 % 30 %
Purple prairie clover, Dalea purpurea
Relationship of seeding rate to establishment
#plants/ft2 s e e d i n g r a t e
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Hydrology (5 types)
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Number of Species by Hydrologic Affinity
Potential pool of species in each mix, contingent
- n geographic location
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Seeding Method, Site Condition, Season
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Seeding Rate Multipliers
Site Conditions killed sod bare soil “ “ “ “
- Seeding Rate 40-60 seeds/ft2 for mix
- 50:50 graminoid:forb (+ legumes)
Technique Drill Spring(soil>50 F) Fall (soil<38 F) Slopes Broadcast Hydro Multiplier x1 x1 x1.5 (WSG only) x1.5 x1.3 x1.3 Nurse Crop None 16 lbs/ac oats 15 lbs/ac w.wheat x2 nurse crop
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Geographic Location (99 Counties)
1
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Geographic Distribution Example
Prairie smoke Geum triflorum
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Cost Factor ‘Economy’ or ‘Premium’
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Economy vs Premium Comparison (2015 prices)
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Review Your Input
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Species and Seed Rate - Grasses
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Species and Seed Rate - Grasses
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Species and Seed Rate - Legumes
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Species and Seed Rate – Forbs & Total
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Sample output (bid sheet)
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Cost Cutting Strategies
- Don’t automatically eliminate high-cost species
– % reduction in seeding rate across several species – Increase seeding rate of more affordable species to compensate
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Substitutions for Unavailable Species
- Contact additional nurseries for those species
- Increase seeding rate of available species
- Substitute with other species in the calculator
not in the original mix
- Leave out unavailable species so long as it
doesn’t compromise overall mix or seeding rate
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Number of species in bloom by month
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Fayette County Roadside
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Thank you! Questions?
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