Seed Specifications • Developing • Examples

Species Availability• Cultivated Species• Collections

National Seed Strategy• Challenges

Form of communication• Industry will recognize the demand

Steps in Developing• Determine species• Determine species percentages• Determine rates (in PLS lbs.)

Develop a wish list

Consider existing vegetation

Consider climate & soil types

Ecological Literature

Discuss with local expertise

Develop a revised list

Determine availability*

Produce the final list

Use acceptable varieties or cultivars and collections from similar geographic areas.

• May be necessary for larger projects• Readily available • Prices are typically less

Use local sources within a specific geographic range.

• Better suited for small projects• Plan ahead• Cost prohibitive

Use both (Known sources UP Materials)

Determine desired percentages of grasses, forbs and shrubs

Determine species most likely to succeed short term and long term

Determine individual species percentages

Percentages based on seeds not by weight.

Determine desired number of Pure Live Seed (PLS) per square foot

• PLS = % Germination x % Purity

Calculate planting rate• Planting rate of commercial seeds in

PLS lbs/acre

Species list with both common and scientific names

Rates specified in PLS lbs./acre

Notes of any special requirements

Contact info for clarifications

BOTANICAL COMMON

1 Agropyron cristatum 'Ephraim' Ephraim Crested Wheatgrass 200,000 5.00 26.03% 22.96 7.00 24.73% 32.142 Elymus lanceolatus spp. Riparium 'Sodar' Sodar Streambank Wheatgrass 156,000 3.00 12.18% 10.74 4.50 12.40% 16.123 Festuca ocina 'Covar' Covar Sheep Fescue 680,000 2.00 35.41% 31.22 3.00 36.03% 46.834 Pascopyrum smithii 'Arriba' Arriba Western Wheatgrass 110,000 4.00 11.46% 10.10 6.00 11.66% 15.155 Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata 'Secar'Secar Bluebunch Wheatgrass 140,000 2.00 7.29% 6.43 3.00 7.42% 9.646 Linum lewisii 'Appar' Appar Ble Flax 293,000 1.00 7.63% 6.73 1.50 7.76% 10.09

Total 17.00 100.00% 88.18 25.00 100.00% 129.97

BROADCAST SEED

Pounds of pure live

seed per acre

Percent of mix

Seeds per square foot

SEED SCHEDULE

SEED NO.

SPECIES NAMEDRILL SEED

Number of seeds per

pound

Pounds of pure live

seed per acre

Percent of mix

Seeds per square foot

Common Name Scientific Names Variety Season Form PLS

lbs/acre* Plant One of the Following (5% Total)

Mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montanus VNS Warm Shrub 1.0

Bitterbrush Purshia tridentata VNS Cool Shrub 1.0

And Two of the Following (20% Total)

Western Wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii Arriba Cool Sod 2.0 Bottlebrush Squirreltail

Elymus elymoides Tusas Germplasm

Cool Bunch 3.0

Needleandthread Hesperostipa comata VNS Cool Bunch 3.0 And Two of the Following (25% Each, 50% Total)

Indian Ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides

Paloma Warm Bunch 3.5

Blue gramma Bouteloua gracilis Alma Warm Bunch 2.0 And One of the Following (20% Total)

Prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha VNS Cool Bunch 2.0 Muttongrass Poa fendleriana VNS Cool Bunch 2.0

And One of the Following (5% Total) Scarlet globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea VNS Warm Forb 2.0 WyomingPaintbrush Castilleja linearifolia VNS Warm Forb 2.0 Utah Sweetvetch Hedysarum boreale VNS Warm forb 2.0

Crop failure (weather, insect predation, disease)

Increase in demand

Requests for materials the reclamation industry has not typically neededor wanted in the past

SEED

Grass species are typically easiest to acquire.

Farm cultivated & Machine harvested

Some forbs are field produced, but most are collected

Find large enough stands to collect

Must obtain permission/permits

Must monitor stands

Must organize and time collections perfectly

Vision- Right Seed Right Place Right Time

Mission- Ensure availability of genetically appropriate seed to restore viable and productive plant communities and sustainable ecosystems.

Increased demand for locally adapted seed

Increased need for communication with researchers and land managers.

Increase in resources

Collections• More & Smaller• Planning Efforts

Grow Out Contracts• Smaller Fields

Inventory• Storage• Risk

With the National Seed strategy there is an anticipated increase in demand for local seed

A key to meet this demand will be increased communication

Seed specifications can be one effective tool for communication

For more information contact

1697 West 2100 Nor th, Lehi , UT 84043

801.768.4422

490 East 76th Ave. Unit A, Denver CO 80229

720.496.0600

6682 South Dateland Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283

480-748-9286

www.graniteseed.com