SELECTION OF SPECIES TO SEED 



CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES 



Many features contribute to or detract from a species' value for seeding. Ability to sur- 

 vive and grow on the site to be seeded is of first importance; this has been well established for 

 all species and types of sites discussed herein. Additional considerations that influence a choice 

 of species for a particular site and purpose include competitive ability, longevity, palatability 

 and grazing tolerance, and distinctive growth habits such as those mentioned in table 3. 



Competitive Ability 



A species should be able to prevent or inhibit invasion by undesirable plants. Grass spe- 

 cies vary markedly in this ability. Following are two examples of such differences from Cassia 

 and Oneida Counties. At Meadow Creek, Cassia County, crested wheatgrass and intermediate 

 wheatgrass were seeded on adjacent parts of a favorable sagebrush site in 1948. Vegetation was 

 mainly big sagebrush with some serviceberry and snowberry. Good stands of both grasses 

 started, and many seedlings of sagebrush came up among the grass seedlings. Some sagebrush 

 seedlings died, but 14 sagebrush seedlings per 100 square feet became established in the crested 

 wheatgrass and 19 in the intermediate wheatgrass. In the crested wheatgrass area, subsequent 

 establishment of sagebrush plants increased their number to 15 in 1955 and to 17 in 1962. But 

 in the intermediate wheatgrass, sagebrush plants increased to 46 in 1955 and 96 in 1962. 

 Crested wheatgrass suppressed the growth rate of sagebrush that became established the same 

 year as the grass and subsequently allowed establishment of only a few additional plants. On 

 the other hand, intermediate wheatgrass inhibited neither the continued establishment of sage- 

 brush nor its vigorous growth. The production of intermediate wheatgrass was much less in 

 1962 than in 1955, while crested wheatgrass yielded the same amount of herbage both years. 



Near Holbrook, Oneida County, crested wheatgrass and bluebunch wheatgrass were seeded 

 on adjacent areas on abandoned farmland in the fall of 1939. Both grasses established a good 

 seedling stand. For 25 years, crested wheatgrass has maintained a good stand under moderate 

 to heavy grazing, and has allowed only negligible sagebrush reinvasion. Bluebunch wheatgrass, 

 on the other hand, gradually disappeared and has been completely replaced by a mixed stand of 

 crested wheatgrass and big sagebrush. Obviously, the more competitive grass, which inhibits 

 establishment or growth of brush, allows a greater interval of time until the seeding requires 

 brush control. 



■ . Longevity 



Another important consideration in selecting species to seed is longevity of plants. Ideal- 

 ly, range seeding is a one-time operation that will last indefinitely with good management. 



Longevity of seeded stands is often questioned. Although yields vary with year-to-year 

 climatic deviations, production generally increases for 2 to 5 years after planting. Later, pro- 

 duction characteristically declines to what seems to be the level of sustained productivity for 

 the site. Crested and fairway wheatgrasses , smooth brome, and bulbous bluegrass have pro- 

 duced for more than 25 years on sites to which they are adapted. The oldest known seedings of 

 crested wheatgrass in Idaho that have been grazed regularly were made in 1932 and 1933. At 

 the end of 30 years these stands were still productive and yielded far more palatable herbage 

 than adjacent unseeded ranges. The highest recorded yield was produced in the 30th growing 

 season for a 1933 seeding near Dubois, Clark County, and during the 20th season for a 1943 

 seeding near Sublette, Cassia County (table 2). These high yields in 1963 followed favorable 

 precipitation in 1962. 



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