METHODS 

 Shrubs and Forbs 



Information about shrub species and their effectiveness 

 in revegetation was obtained from published sources 

 (Plummcr and others 1968; Plummer 1970), the field 

 experience of Monsen (at the Intermountain Station's 

 Forestry Sciences Laboratory in Boise, Idaho) and Jensen 

 (at Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont.), and 

 the results of plantings on the Colville and Coeur d'AIenc 

 National Forests (Mason and others 1973). From this 

 information, a list of species suitable for planting study 

 sites was compiled, based on species' adaptability and 

 their potential for soil stabilization. The 18 species of 

 shrubs planted in the study areas (appendix 1 lists species 

 by common and botanical names) were species from 

 this list that were available from the nursery. 



Plants were obtained from the Coeur d'Alene Nursery 

 as 1 -year-old bare-rooted plants in the fall of 1973 and 

 1974. Plants received in October 1973 were heeled in 

 (stored in trenches with roots covered with moist soil) 

 for the winter and planted the following spring. This 

 spring planting consisted of 15,000 plants. An additional 

 2,500 plants, received in October 1974, were heeled in 

 until planted in November 1974. 



Shrubs were planted every 2 feet (0.6 m) in vertical 

 rows 3 feet (0.9 m) apart. The planters used ladders to 

 facilitate planting on steep cut banks in the study areas 

 (fig. 2). Hoedads were used to make holes, and any 

 available soil was backfilled around the plants. 



Figure 2. — Planting on road cuts using 

 ladders to provide footing for the 

 planter and reduce site disturbance. 



Spring planting began in mid-April 1974, and con- 

 cluded in early May. Climatic conditions during planting 

 were generally good, with the exception of a few warm, 

 dry days during the first week. Snow on some of the 

 slopes created adverse planting conditions by mixing 

 with the soil around the roots of the plants. Conditions 

 during fall planting in November 1974 were adverse; 

 the weather was cold and snowy, and soils were frozen 

 on one site. 



The overall condition of the planting stock was very 

 good. Silvery lupine and snowbrush (also called everg- 

 reen or shinyleaf ceanothus) plants in both shipments 

 were in poor condition. Saskatoon serviceberry plants 

 received in 1974 were extremely small and in poor 

 condition. Wood's rose plants received in the 1974 

 shipment were substantially larger than those received 

 in 1973. At the time of spring planting, most of the 

 curl-leaf mountain-mahogany stock was in less than 

 satisfactory condition, possibly due to damage while 

 heeled in. 



Survival was based on the percentage of plants living 

 4 years after planting. Shrubs planted with grass and 

 legumes (described below) were included. Overall plant- 

 ing success was determined subjectively after 9 years. 

 Criteria for this subjective evaluation were based on 

 the work of Nord (1977) and adaptability attributes 

 similar to those of Plummer (1977). These adaptability 

 attributes were used to develop a suitability index similar 

 to that used by Plummer and others (1968). Criteria 

 (rating factors) for the suitability ratings were: survival, 

 based upon first- and fourth-year evaluations; growth, 

 based on size and spatial development typical for the 

 species; vigor, based on flowering frequency and ap- 

 pearance; natural spread, based on type of regeneration 

 and degree of plant spreading; and soil stabilization, 

 based upon observed holding capabilities and the extent 

 of root systems. 



Flowers, vegetative color, and form can add to the 

 visual acceptability of revegetated road cuts. These 

 factors are especially significant in high use areas. 

 Although not included with the above criteria, some 

 evaluations of visual acceptability are included in the 

 Results and Discussion section. 



Shrubs and Forbs with Grasses and Legumes 



On three road cuts shrubs were planted, as described 

 above, along with a grass and legume mixture, a fer- 

 tilization treatment, and a straw mulch treatment in the 

 spring of 1974. For these tests seven shrub species and 

 a seeding mixture used by the Flathead National Forest 

 were used (appendix 2). The seeding mixture was applied 

 with a cyclone seeder in a single application at a rate 

 of 13 lb/acre (14.6 kg/ha). (Rates for each species are 

 given in appendix 2.) Fertilizer was applied in a single 

 application with a cyclone seeder at a rate of 250 lb/acre 

 (280 kg/ha) of 16-20-0 (40 lb/acre |44.8kg/ha] actual 

 nitrogen and 50 lb/acre |56kg/ha] actual phosphorus). 

 A randomized block design (Steel and Torrie 1960) 

 was used, giving 12 experimental units or treatment 

 combinations. More details of the treatments and 

 methodology are given in appendix 2. 



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