the benefit of commercialy produced ecotypic native seed
DESCRIPTION
By Anthony FaulkTRANSCRIPT
The Benefit of Commercially Produced Ecotypic na8ve seed
material
Major differences
• Gramas (Blue, Sideoats, and Black) – Size – Root growth – Growing period – Flowering date – Seed maturity
Sideoats grama
• Bouteloua cur+pendula var. caespitosa grows on loose, sandy or rocky, well drained limestone soils in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and South America
• Bouteloua cur+pendula var. cur+pendula is the common variety of B. cur+pendula in most of the Flora region. It grows on rich, loamy, well-‐drained prairie soils
• LiPle bluestem – Size – Growth period – Flowering date – Seed maturity
Gene8c diversity vs. Local adapta8on?
• Gene8cally diverse – Able to adapt to a wide variety of condi8ons – Environment will fine tune – More Marketable – Gene8cally flood local popula8on – Mixed results
– How far to include
Gene8c diversity vs. Local adapta8on?
• Locally adapted – BePer adapted to local environment
– Important for rare species – Limited market – Maintain local gene8cs – Large scale produc8on – How close do you need to be
Gene8cs overview for na8ve plants
• High species level varia8on common (across area of adapta8on)
• High within popula8on (local) varia8on common • Prairie acacia, 4 flower – Gene8cally different by region – OWen caused by distance, climate, or geographical barriers
• But not all species are gene8cally diverse – Cordgrass and dalea – >50% different between popula8ons – No difference between popula8ons
• 26 plan8ngs currently evalua8ng • 50% successful by NRCS standard
• 65 varie8es na8ve and non-‐na8ve • 7 na8ve & 2 non-‐na8ve ≥ 50% canopy cover 1 year aWer plan8ng
Why commercially produced seed?
• Seed available every year • Increased seed quality • Increased quan8ty • Less poten8al for invasive introduc8on • Regulated industry • Lower cost • Named varie8es with know origin and test performance are oWen available
Slim tridens 56 popula8ons-‐wild harvested 2001-‐2003 (wet years)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
No germina8on 1-‐9% 10-‐19% 20-‐29% 30-‐39% 40-‐49% 50-‐59% 60%+
Slim tridens 56 popula8ons-‐agronomically grown (2004 irrigated)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1-‐9% 10-‐19% 20-‐29% 30-‐39% 40-‐49% 50-‐59% 60-‐69% 70-‐79% 80-‐89% 90-‐100%
Seed Mixes Cost per acre
Variety/Species Cost per acre
Laredo ® Brand Buffelgrass $36.00
Selec8on 75 Kleingrass $25.50
Turner Seed Company pipeline mix $25.00
Na8ve American Seed Western Rangeland Grass Mix
$168
Na8ve American Seed Coastal Prairie Mix $232.00
Douglass King Seed Company-‐ Kings Na8ve Rangeland Grass Mix
$150.00
Bamert Seed Company-‐ Quick Cover Blend $76.30
South Texas Na8ves Recommended Grass Mixes
$100.00
STN/NRCS Mix for Western South Texas $60.00
South Texas Na8ves released Seed Mixes
• Cost $60-‐130/acre • Mixes are about ½ cost of comparable wild-‐harvested seed mixes
• Cost is about 2-‐3 8me cost of exo8c grass seed mixes
Cost Comparison To 1961
Species/variety 1961 cost 1961 cost with infla8on added for today
2011 cost
Buffelgrass $1.25 $9.19 $9.00
Lehman Lovegrass $3.40 $25.01 $9.50
Sideoats Grama $1.00 $7.35 $9.50
Switchgrass $13.80 $101.50 $16.00
Catarina Blend Bristlegrass
_ _ $26.00
• Today's cost are high due to early stage produc8on cost and investment into new species, prices are expected to drop as produc8on and sales increase
• Paying more for what works saves money in the long run
• Prices have already seen decreases in less than 2 years of commercial produc8on
• However-‐demand is very high at today’s prices
Summary
• Regional Germplasm • Best results • More reliable product
• Cost effec8ve • Regulated
• Important considera8ons for seed • Origin (not produc8on or sale loca8on) • Soil type • Ecoregion
• If you use wild-‐harvest seed: • Require a PLS value • Require a purity and noxious weed exam (beware other crops!) • Cer8fica8on program for source iden8fied exists but no one uses it
Acknowledgements
STN Sponsors • Texas Department of Transporta8on • Lee and Ramona Bass Founda8on • Robert J. Kleberg and Helen C. Kleberg
Founda8on • Harvey Weil Sportsmen Conserva8onist
Trust • ExxonMobil • ConocoPhillips • Pioneer Natural Resources • Caesar Kleberg Partners • A.E. Leonard Family Giving Counsel • Ewing Halsell Founda8on • Numerous private landowners • Will Harte
STN Cooperators
• USDA NRCS E. “Kika” de la Garza Plant Materials Center
• Texas AgriLife Research Uvalde
• Rio Farms, Inc.