Seeding Time and Method for
Winterfat in the Semiarid Region
of the Canadian Prairies
Michael P. Schellenberg
Abstract: Seeding recommendations for winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A.D.J. Meeuse & Smit) are to seed in fall. A
3-year establishment study (1997 to 1999) of this semishrub at the
Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre indicated that yearto-year variation occurs. After-ripened seed from New Mexico was
seeded in fall or in spring. Seeding techniques compared were drill,
broadcast, and broadcast followed by packing in cultivated land.
Seedling counts and dry matter yield data for the establishment and
the second year were obtained. Year-by-year statistical analysis
revealed variation in seeding time benefits for number of seedlings.
Broadcasting resulted in best establishment of winterfat (as found
in the literature), but packing had a negative impact.
Introduction ____________________
Winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) has been recognized as a valuable forage source since the 1890s (Van
Dersal 1938). Anecdotal information indicates that cattle
drives from Texas to the Canadian Prairies followed the
winterfat northward. Also, Canadian ranchers have found
that their best producing winter pastures often had higher
winterfat populations than less productive winter pastures.
Improved economic viability for ranchers in the Northern Great Plains is associated with increased grazing
period with a potential 56 percent increase in economic
efficiency (Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, Extension
Agrologist, J. Graham, personal communication). This requires a forage source with good nutritional value in the fall
when most forage sources are nutritionally deficient. Crude
protein for many species falls below 7 percent, while winterfat maintains crude protein values above 7 percent
(Clarke and Tisdale 1945), which is sufficient for winter
grazing (Smoliak and Bezeau 1967). As a result, there has
been an increased interest in this shrub due to its good
nutritional composition and late season grazing potential.
Interest, in part, has resulted in increased seed production
as well as development of Northern adapted ecological
varieties. With increased seed availability, the need for
proper planting methods has been realized.
The present recommendation for seeding is fall broadcast
seeding (Romo and others 1997; Stevens and others 1996).
Objectives _____________________
1. Under southwest Saskatchewan climatic conditions, is
fall seeding required?
2. Would placement on the surface of a furrow or packing
after broadcasting improve establishment?
Methods and Materials ___________
A fully randomized factorial design study was seeded 3
years in succession from 1997 to 1999 using seed obtained
from New Mexico (Wind River Seeds) and after-ripened for
a 30-day period. The seeding took place at the Semiarid
Agricultural Research Centre (SPARC), Swift Current (50∞
17’ N, 107∞ 41’ W), Saskatchewan, Canada, on typic
Haploboroll soil (Swinton loam soil [Orthic brown chernozem; Ayres and others 1985]). Each seeding site had four
replicates. The factors examined in this paper were (1) fall
(dormant seeding; late October to November) or spring (late
May to early June) seeding; and (2) seeding method: surface
seeded into a furrow, broadcast, and broadcast followed by
packing.
Data on seedling counts for seeding year and the second
year, as well as dry matter yields for second year, were
collected in September of each year. Meteorological data
were obtained from an Environment Canada weather station. Precipitation and potential evaporation (U.S. Weather
Bureau Class A pan) were totalled for the month. The
precipitation deficit was calculated as total potential evaporation minus total monthly precipitation. Long-term weather
data were obtained from long-term records maintained at
SPARC. Data were analyzed using SAS GLM (SAS Institute
Inc. 1990).
Results and Discussion __________
Meteorological Data
In: Hild, Ann L.; Shaw, Nancy L.; Meyer, Susan E.; Booth, D. Terrance;
McArthur, E. Durant, comps. 2004. Seed and soil dynamics in shrubland
ecosystems: proceedings; 2002 August 12–16; Laramie, WY. Proceedings
RMRS-P-31. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Rocky Mountain Research Station.
Michael P. Schellenberg is a Forage Plant Ecologist, Semiarid Prairie
Agricultural Research Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Box 1030,
Swift Current, SK, S9H 3X2, Canada. Phone: (306) 778-7247, FAX: (306) 7739123, e-mail: schellenberg@agr.gc.ca
134
Growing season precipitation exceeded the 114-year average for most years of the study (fig. 1). Potential available
moisture also increased from 1998 to 2000 (fig. 2). Precipitation for 1998 and 1999 was lower than 2000 in the winter
months, suggesting less insulative cover (fig. 1). The precipitation for the winter months of 2000 (fig. 1) and mean
monthly temperature (fig. 3) were higher than those of
USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-31. 2004
Seeding Time and Method for Winterfat in the Semiarid Region of the Canadian Prairies
Schellenberg
140
Precipitation (mm)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
July
June
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
1998
2000
1999
114 year mean
Figure 1—Monthly precipitation for 1998 to 2000 and 114-year mean.
previous years. Mean monthly temperatures in the fall of
1997 (fig. 3) were warmer than the following years, resulting
in premature germination and seedling death prior to spring
1998, thus resulting in better 1998 spring seedling establishment (table 1).
Time of Seeding
Spring or fall seeding appears to be year dependant
(table 1) with first-year seedling counts, indicating no
multiple-year benefits for either spring or fall seeding.
With increasing annual growing season precipitation (figs.
1 and 2), fall seeding failed to provide a benefit (table 1). In
the wettest year (2000), no difference between spring or fall
seeding occurred for seedling establishment. Plant counts
for the year following establishment indicate that the effect
of fall seeding continues beyond the seedling year (table 1).
The dry matter yield per plant was better for fall-seeded
plants (table 1). The additional time for growth from earlier
germination is most likely the primary factor.
Method of Seeding
Furrows provide a microenvironment with potentially
increased moisture (Bellotti and Blair 1989) and decreased
wind. However, these potential benefits were negated by
burial of surface-seeded winterfat as indicated by lower
plant counts and dry matter yield (table 2). Broadcasting
and packing failed to result in increased seedling numbers,
although there may have been benefit for dry matter yield
Precipitation deficit (mm)
0
-50
Table 1—Dry matter yields, plant counts for first year and second year
of establishment for time of seeding factor for three seeding
years.
-100
-150
1997–
1998
-200
-250
-300
May
June
July
Aug
Month
2000
1999
1998
Figure 2—Precipitation deficit (Pan “A”) evaporationprecipitation) for 1998 to 2000 growing seasons.
USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-31. 2004
Sept
Seeding site
1998–
1999
1999–
2000
Year 1 fall plant count (m–2)
Fall seeding
Spring seeding
2.4
5.8a
2.2a
1.5
1.3
1.4
Year 2 plant count (m–2)
Fall seeding
Spring seeding
nab
nab
1.5
1.2
1.4
1.8
20.2a
9.4
14.3a
8.4
nab
nab
Year 2 dry matter yield (g plant–1)
Fall seeding
Spring seeding
a
b
Statistically significant (P > 0.05).
na = data not available.
135
Seeding Time and Method for Winterfat in the Semiarid Region of the Canadian Prairies
Mean monthly temperature (degrees C)
Schellenberg
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
Jan
Feb
Mar
May
April
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
1997
1998
1999
2000
Figure 3—Mean monthly minimum temperature.
(table 2). The increased dry matter yield may have resulted
from improved moisture retention or decreased seedling
competition, as a result of lower number of seedlings. Further research is needed to determine exact cause.
Conclusions ____________________
Benefits of fall or spring seeding for winterfat seedling
establishment depended on the prevailing environmental
conditions during the establishment year. The variation in
year could be due to available moisture. The availability of
water, winter temperatures, and available insulative cover
appear to affect the optimum time of seeding. Further
research is required to establish the relationship of water
and temperature.
Table 2—Dry matter yields, plant counts for first year and second year
of establishment for seed method factor for three seeding
years.
1997–
1998
Seeding site
1998–
1999
1999–
2000
Year 1 fall plant count (m–2)
Furrow
Broadcast
Broadcast and packed
2.0a
5.8
4.6b
0.9a
2.3
2.3
0.4a
2.0
1.6b
Year 2 plant count (m–2)
Furrow
Broadcast
Broadcast and packed
nac
nac
nac
0.8a
1.9
2.0
0.6a
2.2
2.0
Year 2 dry matter yield (g plant–1)
Furrow
Broadcast
Broadcast and packed
12.8
14.6
17.1
11.6
10.6
11.8
nac
nac
nac
a
Statistically significant (P > 0.05) difference from broadcast treatments
determined with single degree of freedom contrast.
b
Statistically significant (P > 0.05) difference from broadcast alone treatment
determined with single degree of freedom contrast.
c
na = data not available.
136
Fall seeding did result in greater per plant dry matter
production, although dry matter yields were unaffected by
seeding method. Manipulation of microclimate using furrows did not result in increased seedling establishment.
Broadcasting of winterfat seed resulted in better seedling
establishment compared to seeding in a furrow, but packing
following broadcasting tended to have a negative impact on
seedling numbers.
Acknowledgments ______________
This work was possible with funding support from the
Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Technical support from
J. Bolton, B. Hedger, and numerous summer students,
especially C. Neufeld, was greatly appreciated. Poster
development was with the assistance of D. Schott.
References _____________________
Ayres, K. W.; Acton, D. F.; Ellis, J. G. 1985. The soils of Swift Current
map 725 Saskatchewan. Publ. 56. Saskatoon, SK: University of
Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology. 22 p.
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Clarke, S. E.; Tisdale, E. W. 1945. The chemical composition of
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Romo, J. T.; Booth, D. T.; Bai, Y.; Hou, J.; Zabek, C. 1997. Seedbank
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Schellenberg
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