20 MISC. PUBLICATION 99 2, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Results 



Results are not yet available on this study, which will be carried 

 out for at least another vear. 9 



SEEDINGS WITH COATED SEED PELLETS 



Large-scale and experimental field seedings of coated seed pellets 

 were made at Crane Creek, Idaho, in 1949. In 1954, large-scale studies 

 were conducted in southern Idaho at Summit, Dubois, and Fort Hall 

 (Sand area, Buckskin Flat, Ross Fork, and Portneuf River). Also, 

 several experimental field seedings were made at Summit, Dubois, 

 Sand area, Buckskin Flat, and Portneuf River. Because the experi- 

 mental seedings are very similar, they are discussed together. 



Crane Creek, Idaho 



The Crane Creek area near Weiser, Idaho, consists of a large flat 

 and an adjoining slope totaling 6,500 acres. Elevation ranges from 

 3,500 to 4,500 feet and annual precipitation from 13 to 15 inches. 

 On the slope, the vegetation is big sagebrush and bunch grasses; on 

 the flat, it is mainly cheatgrass. The soils on the slope are light- 

 textured and moderately deep, whereas on the flat they are heavier 

 and slightly deeper. 



Two sites for experimental field seedings were selected at Crane 

 Creek; the third was near Pocatello, Idaho. The Pocatello site is 

 sagebrush-grass with a good deep soil. The elevation at Pocatello is 

 approximately 4,500 feet and annual precipitation is 13 inches. 



Procedures 



Large-scale seeding. — The 6,500-acre tract at Crane Creek was 

 burned in the fall of 1948 to prepare it for seeding. Seeding was by 

 airplane in late March 1949. Coated pellets of crested wheatgrass 

 were broadcast at the rate of 32 pounds of pellets or 4 pounds of seed 

 per acre. 



Experimental field seeding. — On each of the three experimental 

 areas, a Ko-acre plot was hand-broadcast to coated pellets of crested 

 wheatgrass at the rate of 6 pounds of seed per acre. A similar plot 

 was broadcast to 6 pounds of nonpelleted seed per acre. Seedings 

 were made in the fall of 1949 on burned seedbeds. 



Results 



Large-scale seeding. — The summer of 1949 was extremely dry 

 at Crane Creek. Only one seedling of crested wheatgrass was found 



9 Unpublished data from the University of Arizona. 



