Coated pellets have given results comparable to those for broadcast naked seed; but without soil 

 covering, poor stands or failures result for both (Hull 1959). A survey of all range seedings 

 with pellets showed that none was successful and that pellet seeding of rangelands could not be 

 recommended (Hull et al. 1963). 



DEPTH 



For best emergence and survival, seed should be placed at a depth related to seed size. 

 As depth increases beyond optimum, fewer seedlings can emerge. At shallower depths, germi- 

 nation decreases and seedling mortality increases . The sustaining secondary root system of 

 grasses arises from the shoot above the level of the seed. When the seed is too shallow, the 

 secondary root system either fails completely or develops very slowly. With no secondary root 

 system the plant also is inadequately anchored and may be blown over or broken off. Recom- 

 mended depths for different species are showm in table 3 (pp. 12-14). 



SEASON 



Planting should be timed so that seedlings will start to germinate and emerge at the begin- 

 ning of the longest period of favorable soil moisture and temperature. A review of results in 

 southern Idaho shows that fall seedings have produced consistently better stands than spring 

 seedings . 



October seedings are usually somewhat more successful than September seedings (Hull 

 1948). At high elevations, of course, seeding must be early enough to be completed before 

 winter starts . 



Spring seedings have been successful, but they have several limitations. Spring rains 

 interrupt work, areas dry unevenly, and the favorable season for seeding is usually short. In 

 western Idaho, there may be no spring or summer rain after the ground becomes dry enough 

 for cultivation. 



RATE 



The amount of seed to use varies with species and seeding method. If planting techniques 

 could provide even distribution and insure the development of a mature plant from every seed, 

 then less than a pound of seed per acre would be sufficient to establish a seeded stand. 

 But some seeds never germinate; some germinate and the shoots do not emerge; and some plants 

 die after emergence. Seeding rates must compensate for these losses. Beyond what is required 

 for establi siring a full stand, however, increase in rate wastes seed. Each site can support 

 only a limited maximum number of mature plants; if more than that emerge, the excess will die. 



In Elmore County, for example, yields from plots seeded at rates of 1 and 40 pounds of 

 fairway wheatgrass seed per acre were essentially the same when the seedings were 10 years 

 old (table 1). Similar results were obtained in Clark and Bonneville Counties (Mueggler and 

 Blaisdell 1955). 



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