enhancing crp with native species: p ractical experiences
DESCRIPTION
Enhancing CRP With Native Species: P RACTICAL EXPERIENCES. KURT MERG WDFW for MEL ASHER and JERRY BENSON BFI Native Seeds, Moses Lake, Washington. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Goals: Protect Soil Protect Water Provide Habitat for Wildlife. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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ENHANCING CRP WITH NATIVE SPECIES:
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCESKURT MERG
WDFW for
MEL ASHER and JERRY BENSONBFI Native Seeds, Moses Lake, Washington
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Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• Goals:– Protect Soil – Protect Water– Provide Habitat for
Wildlife
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Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
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Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
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Conservation Reserve Program(CRP)
• Wildlife Value has lagged Soil & Water Value– Little variety– Low value to wildlife
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Diversity: Key to Wildlife Value
• Structure and Species• Long-lasting Diversity• Native species
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Diversification• Improve habitat for wildlife– Sage-grouse broods use areas rich in
forbs(Drut et al. 1994; Apa
1998)– Forbs contributed 20 to 50% to the
diet of pre-laying sage-grouse hens(Barnett and
Crawford 1994)– Sharp-tailed grouse use areas that
contain a high diversity of forbs and bunchgrasses (Hart et al. 1950, Klott and Lindzey 1989, Meints 1991)
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Background• Methods developed by WDFW/BLM/BFI
“trial and error” converting CRP plantings to native species
• CRP was typically crested wheatgrass or other introduced grasses, and invasive annuals
• Approach requires multiple steps and a combination of chemical and mechanical controls
• Currently in use to convert approx 40,000 acres of CRP in WA for SAFE
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For ReferenceBenson, J., R.T. Tveten, M. G. Asher and P.W. Dunwiddie. 2011. Shrub-Steppe and Grassland Restoration Manual for the Columbia River Basin http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01330/
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Methods
1. Site Preparation – Adaptive Process used to accomplish the following goals:• Control of existing vegetation• Depletion of weed seed bank• Preparation of seed bed for planting
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Mowing
Rotary Blade Mower
• Timing – Summer following seed shatter
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Harrowing• Light tillage with a heavy spring-tine
harrow• Timing - Fall
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Chemical Fallow
• Mid-Spring Heavy Glyphosate (6-8 inches tall)• 3.3 kg a.i. / ha Glyphosate (3 qt/ac
Round-Up Pro) with AMS and NIS
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Deep Tillage• Some CRP species and dense crested
wheatgrass may require tillage for better control• Breaks up sod, exposes rhizomes• Sweep-chisel or moldboard plow• One week following heavy mid-spring
herbicide application• Tillage is typically following by
harrowing
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Chemical Fallow
Summer • 1.1 kg a.i. / ha Glyphosate (1 qt/ac Round-Up Pro) +
0.1 kg a.i. / ha Dicamba (2-3 oz/ac) with AMS and NIS
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Ready to Plant…• Fall Glyphosate• 0.5 kg a.i. ha / kg (1 pt/ac Round-Up
Pro) with AMS and NIS
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Seeding• Dormant seeding with TruAx Flex II• Seeding depth ranges from ¼ - ½
inches
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Grass Seed MixesGrass Species Eco-Types
Lbs / Acre
Bluebunch Wheatgrass
Duffy Creek/Hawk Creek 5
Idaho Fescue Touchet/Tucannon 3Sandberg Bluegrass Sprague 1.6Prairie Junegrass Zumwalt 1
TOTAL 10.6Grass Species Eco-Types
Lbs/Acre
Bluebunch wheatgrass Wahluke 3.6Sandberg's bluegrass Frenchman Hills 1.6Indian ricegrass Nezpar 1.4Bottlebrush squirreltail Yakama 1.1Thickspike wheatgrass Schwendimar 1.4
TOTAL 9
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Spring After Grass Planting
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Spring After Grass Planting• Timing – Later spring – 50% of rosettes are 2-
3 inches• MCPA and Bromoxynil– Add mild SU like Express for purple mustard
control
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Spring After Grass Planting
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Post-Plant Cheatgrass Control– Prior to seeded species emergence
• 0.25 kg a.i. / ha (8 oz/acre Round-Up Pro) + AMS and NIS– Just after seeded species emergence
• 0.1 kg a.i. / ha (3-4 oz/acre Round-Up Pro)
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Summer After Grass Planting
• Depending spring rain, a follow-up application or mowing is often required to control weed flushes
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Forb Inter-seeding
• Forbs are drilled the fall after grass seeding
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Forb Seed MixesForb Species Ecotypes Lbs/AcArrowleaf balsamroot Spokane River 0.8Silky lupine Spokane River 0.4Threadleaf fleabane Duffy Creek 0.2Nineleaf biscuitroot Columbia Basin 0.3Lewis’ flax Columbia 0.8Sulfur buckwheat 0.4Western Yarrow Methow 0.1
TOTAL 3Forb Species Ecotypes Lbs/acBig sagebrush Columbia
Basin0.2
Arrowleaf balsamroot
Red Mountain 0.5
Shaggy fleabane daisy
Duffy Creek 0.2
Creamy buckwheat Duffy Creek 0.2Lewis’ flax Columbia 0.2Nineleaf biscuitroot Columbia
Basin0.2
Silky lupine Columbia Basin
0.3
Tapertip Hawksbeard 0.2TOTAL 2
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Follow-Up Weed Control• Spot spraying• Mowing
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Three Years Post Seeding
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Long-Term Success
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Notes on Forb/Shrub Inter-seeding
• Species readily established by seed include:• Fleabane daisies• Balsamroot• Yarrow• Silky lupine• Lewis’ flax• Sagebrush
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Estimated Cost Per Acre in SAFE
TREATMENTPer Acre
CostSummer mowing $18Fall harrowing $12Spring Spraying (Chemical + Application)
$27
Summer sweep chisel $14Summer Spraying (Chemical + Application)
$17
Year 1 Planting (Grass seed + Drill Seeding)
$100 - 115
Spring Spraying (Chemical + Application)
$17
Year 2 Planting (Forb/Shrub Seed + Drill Seeding)
$120+
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Summary• Involves a multi-year, adaptive
process
• Site preparation takes approx 15 months, and involves at least 4 steps
• Seedbed depletion is critical
• Staged plantings are current method
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But, stay tuned…
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