summary of restoration elements. plant materials

Summary of Restoration Elements

Plant Materials

Basic Questions

• What species?

• What forms?

• What mix?

• When needed?

General Requirements

• Native• Appropriate for restoration goal (to restore

wetland, prairie, etc.)• Will survive site conditions• Will be competitive with invasive species• Affordable• Available when needed• Meet requirements for local genotype

Site Modification

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Site Modification can include a number of different treatments

• Invasive plant removal

• Grading

• Removal of unacceptable materials– Weed seedbanks, toxic substances, non-soil

• Seedbed preparation

• Placement of aboveground obstructions

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• Creation of wildlife habitat structures

• Engineered elements– Weirs, dams, dikes, infiltratration systems,

swales

• Plugging ditches and removing tiles

• Installing liners

• Structurally repairing eroded areas

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Site Conditioning

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• What differentiates site modification from site conditioning?

– Site modification usually entails a structural solution to providing a desired condition, service, etc.

– Site conditioning depends more on the autogenic capabilities of a biological community.

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Site conditioning can include

• Seedbed improvement

• Preparatory crops/stubble

• Mulch

• Creation of shade

• Addition of topsoil on stripped sites

• Building of soil OM by growing vegetation that can tolerate a degraded site

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• Techniques to ameliorate salinity problems

• Bioremediation

• Methods for creating more complex soil biota

• Flooding/draining– To add biomass– To accommodate wildlife– To decrease targeted species

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No-till planting

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Live-staked willows

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Live-staked willows, one year old

Installation

• Plants…collection, propagation, salvage, purchase

• Planting plans…polygons, elevations

• Transport and storage

• Planting day

• Herbivory

• Irrigation

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