PELLET SEEDING ON WESTERN RANGELANDS 1 



Results 



Large-scale seeding. — On May 11, 1949, no seeded plants were 

 found on the seeded area. On June 14, a few small plants were found. 

 The growth of native plants was phenomenal, the result of good 

 winter and spring moisture. The Weather Bureau reported for 

 that area, "The seasonal precipitation is about 50 percent above 

 normal and the outlook for water storage supply and soil moisture is 

 excellent." In August 1952, May 1954, and August 1961 there were 

 a few scattered seedlings of crested wheatgrass. 



Experimental field seeding. — The best seedling establishment 

 and survival was with nonpelleted seed on the scarified seedbed, 

 followed by pelleted seed on the scarified seedbed. In August 1961, 

 only a few plants were found and the seeding was classed as a failure. 

 No plants were found on the two small areas seeded to other types of 

 pellets. 



Central Arizona 



Experimental field seedings in Central Arizona were made to test 

 different methods of seeding compressed earthen pellets and non- 

 pelleted seed on seedbeds prepared by different methods. The primary 

 area is near Congress Junction, about 25 miles northwest of Wicken- 

 burg. Elevation is about 3,000 feet and annual precipitation is 

 about 10 inches. The soil is a light sandy loam. Vegetation is 

 mainly cholla, snakeweed, mesquite, and Joshua tree. There ait 1 

 occasional plants of grass such as tobosa, black grama, and three-awn. 



The secondary area is near Cordes, about 40 miles southeast o( 

 Prescott. Elevation is about 3,750 feet and annual precipitation is 

 about 14 inches. The soil is a loam overlain with an erosion pavement . 

 Vegetation is mainly snakeweed with many annual weeds and grasses 

 and some grass plants such as curly mesquite and side-oats grama. 



Procedures 



At the primary area there were 96 experimental plots, each 3.67 

 acres. Seedbed preparation was pitting, chaining, and no treatment' 

 Nonpelleted seed and pellets were broadcast by airplane and drilled' 

 At the secondary area there were 16 plots, each 4.13 acres; they wort 1 

 broadcast to pellets and nonpelleted seed on an unprepared seedbed- 

 At both areas each treatment plot was divided into three subplots, 

 which were seeded to three individual species: Lehmann and Boer 

 lovegrasses and black grama. Seedings were made in la to Juno and 

 early Julv 1901. Rodents and ants were controlled. 



