Roadside Revegetation

IMPLEMENTATION GUIDES
the fields prior to seed harvest; are the fields weedy and will there be a final
weeding before harvest? Are seeds being handled with care or are they
roughly handled?
A good working relationship with the seed producer is essential in meeting
the overall seed increase objectives (Figure 10-69). It should be realized that
some factors, such as weather, are beyond the control of seed producers,
and on some years seed harvests will fall short of the minimum amounts
stated in the contract. Good communications with the seed producer will
alert you to crop failures or fall down in orders as soon as they occur so that
alternative measures can be taken. An inventory of the number of acres
in each seedlot and the condition of the crop should be supplied by the
contractor upon request.
Store Seed
Seeds can remain viable in storage for many years after harvest. How well seeds keep depends
on the moisture content of the seed, the quality of the seed being stored, and the storage
conditions (temperature and humidity). Riley (2006) found that there was minimal reduction
of seed viability in granary storage after three years for mountain brome (Bromus marginatus)
and Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) (Figure 10-70). Seeds typically store poorly when seed
quality is low or seed moisture content is above 10 percent. If seedlots are stored for more
than a couple of years, it is important to periodically test the seed for germination.
Granary Storage – Most seedlots are stored for short periods of time before they are used
on projects (usually less than five years). For this reason, granary storage is the most common
and economical form of seed storage. Granary storage unit are enclosed rooms sheltered from
rainfall and temperature extremes. They are typically insulated and protected from rodent
and insects. Many granary storage units are tree coolers that have been reconfigured for this
use. While seedlots can store for long periods, low quality seed should be used first because
it is more likely that this seed will loose viability in storage, than high quality seed.
Freezer Storage – Freezer storage is usually reserved for seedlots that will be stored for many
years. Conifer and shrub seeds as well as forb and grass wild seed collections are usually stored
under these conditions, whereas bulk grass and forb seeds typically are not.
% Viable Seeds (TZ Test)
100
80
60
40
20
0
2002
2005
Mountain Brome
2002 2005
Idaho Fescue
Figure 10-70 | Proper storage is
essential to ensure seed viability
Properly cleaned, packaged, and dried
seed can remain viable for many years
under accepTable granary storage
conditions. Seed germination for two
Umatilla National Forest seedlots did
not significantly decrease in storage
after three years as shown in this graph
(Riley 2006).
10.2.5 NURSERY CUTTING PRODUCTION
Introduction
Obtaining cutting materials in the wild for restoration and bioengineering applications can
be difficult and expensive task, especially if populations of parent material are small or access
is limited. Native plant nurseries can be an alternative source of a variety of woody cuttings.
Understanding how nurseries establish and manage “stooling beds” can be a great help to
revegetation specialists and project engineers.
What are Stooling Beds?
“Mother plants” are established in nurseries for the sole purpose of providing a ready source of
cuttings. Stooling beds are hedge-like rows of mother plants that are established in bareroot
nurseries or in vacant fields adjacent to container nurseries (Figure 10-71A).
Stooling beds take advantage of the ability of many broadleaved woody plants to sprout
profusely from the base after being cut off just above the root crown. Plants remain in the juvenile
state, which means they have a higher tendency to sprout and produce roots. Once stooling
beds are established, annual cutting ensures that juvenility can be prolonged indefinitely.
Roadside Revegetation: An Integrated Approach to Establishing Native Plants and Pollinator Habitat
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