24 MISC. PUBLICATION 9 92, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



grasses. There have been several successful range seedings with 

 crested wheatgrass in this area. 



Procedures 



All seedings were at the rate of 6 pounds of crested wheatgrass per 

 acre in November 1954. Nonpelleted seed was broadcast by airplane 

 on 2,350 acres and coated pellets on 1 acre on a clean burn. An 

 additional 850 acres were burned and drilled to nonpelleted seed, and 

 922 acres were plowed and nonpelleted seed was broadcast by spreader 



Results 



In 1961, the area that was seeded by airplane was almost a complete 

 failure with only 0.003 plant per square foot. Where the seed was 

 drilled, there were 2.7 plants per square foot or 900 times more than , 

 from broadcasting on the same seedbed. 



Ross Fork, Fort Hall, Idaho 



The Ross Fork area is 10 miles east of Fort Hall on north and east 

 slopes. Elevation ranges from 5,500 to 7,000 feet. Annual precipita- 

 tion is about 16 inches. Soil is mainly dark-colored silt loam. 

 Vegetation is sagebrush and grass with many mountain brush species ' 

 and pockets of quaking aspen. There have been many successful 

 range seedings in this area and dry farming is successful. 



Procedures 



In September 1954, an accidental fire burned the area clean. In 

 many places, ashes were several inches deep. Crested wheatgrass 

 was broadcast by airplane on November 21, 1954. Coated seed 

 pellets were used at 1, 2%, or 6 pounds of seed per acre on 650 acres 

 and nonpelleted seed at 6 pounds per acre on 750 acres. 



Results 



Counts in 1961 showed that where ashes were 2 inches deep or more, 

 there was a good stand of seeded grass. With less ashes, there were 

 only poor to fair stands. Where ashes were shallow or lacking, the 

 seeding was classed as a failure. At the same seeding rate, there was 

 no difference in stands resulting from pelleted or nonpelleted seed. 



Portneuf River, Fort Hall, Idaho 



The Portneuf area is a south sloping basin on the headwaters of the 

 Portneuf River about 25 miles east of Fort Hall. Elevation ranges 

 from 5,300 to 6,000 feet. Precipitation is about 16 inches annually. 

 Soils are light-colored silt loam. Three-tip sagebrush is dominant, 



