Plant Materials Research At
GBRC
Native Grass Development
• Great Basin Wildrye ‘UDWR Tetra’
is now on the market
• Bluebunch Wheatgrass – Working
in cooperation with ARS to
develop a Great Basin Release.
– We will dig up plants from the field this
year to be brought back to Logan to
be crossed.
• Muttongrass – Working in
cooperation with the USDA RMRS
Shrub Sciences Laboratory to
improve seed production and
harvest.
Lupine Seed Production
• Using mechanical one
time harvest
extrapolated yields
pounds per acre
L. argenteus = 35 pounds
L. sericeus = 24 pounds
• Addition of EDDHA
iron chelate
prevented chlorosis in
L. prunophylus
Eriogonum Survival, Pollination,
and Seed Production
• 8 Accessions EROV
Plugged spring 2007
• In 2009 ( No Seed Set)
– Data on survival
– Flower Height
– Flower Number (surrogate
for seed set)
• Seed Collected 2010 to
establish base line
• Will look at using flies to
increase polination 2011
Globemallow Common Garden
• 2007 production estimates
• 2008 plot devastated by rust
• 2009 new common garden
established to evaluate rust
resistance and drought
tolerance
• 2010 data on survival and
ability to flower and produce
seed in drought conditions
collected
• 2011 continued drought
resistance data will be
collected
Globemallow Seed Production Per Acre at $35/lb
$10,000.00
$9,000.00
$8,000.00
$7,000.00
$6,000.00
$5,000.00
$4,000.00
$3,000.00
$2,000.00
$1,000.00
$0.00
36" X 18"
36" X 12"
22" X 18"
Row and Plant Spacing
22" X 12"
Soil Type Planting Depth Study
•
Four soil types
– Two typical agronomic soils
• Clay loam, clay
– Two typical wildland soils
• 95% percent of forbs collected and in
the data base are found in either loamy
sand, or sandy loam
•
Four planting depths
– 0, 1cm, 2cm, 3cm
•
20 species
Plant Materials Development
Creating The Market For Native
Forbs
Current Uses for Wildland Seed
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Emergency soil stabilization post wildfire.
Range restoration and improvement.
Roadside plantings and reclamation.
Research.
Landscaping home and garden.
What Does the Current Market
Look Like?
• Pounds of native grasses sold?
• Pounds of native shrubs sold?
• Pounds of native forbs sold?
BLM Seed Buy FY-2010
Shrubs = 117,545 Pounds or
16%
Forbs = 65,750 or
9%
Grasses = 537,150 Pounds or
75%
Total Pounds of Seed = 720,445
BLM Seed Buy FY-2010 Natives
Shrubs = 107,195 Pounds or
28%
Forbs = 19,800 Pounds or
5%
Total Pounds of Seed = 380,845
Grasses, 253,850 Pounds or
67%
National Seed Buy
(Native vs. Non-Native)
FY 2010 BLM Seed Awards
300,000
250,000
Pounds
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Native Grasses Non-Native Grasses Native Forbs
Non-Native Forbs
Native Shrubs
Non-Native Shrubs
Total Pounds of Seed Used
Utah DWR FY-9,10,11
Shrubs = 119,559
Pounds 9%
Forbs = 424,650
Pounds 31%
Grasses
=824,128 Pounds
60%
Total Pounds of Seed = 1,368,337
Total Pounds of Native Seed Used
Utah DWR FY-9,10,11
Shrubs = 55,099 Pounds
12%
Forbs = 22,811 Pounds ,
5%
Grasses =391,332 Pounds
83%
Total Pounds of Seed = 469,242
What Does a Good Seed Mix Look
Like?
Depends On The Site
Typical Sagebrush Community
– 10-12 Pounds of perennial grasses per acre
(54%)
– 6-7 Pounds of forbs (31%)
– 2-3 Pounds of shrubs (14%)
How Does That Compare to
Recent Seed Purchases?
UDWR Ephraim Seed Warehouse
BLM National Seed Buy
Shrubs = 117,545 Pounds or
16%
Shrubs = 119,559 Pounds
9%
Forbs = 65,750 or
9%
Forbs = 424,650 Pounds
31%
Grasses =824,128 Pounds
60%
Grasses = 537,150 Pounds or
75%
Typical Seed Mix = 54% Grasses
31% Forbs
14% Shrubs
What Do Forbs Add to the Mix?
* Support a greater variety of
organisms
* Provide cover and soil
stabilization
* Extend forage availability
* Improve aesthetics
* Increase forage quality
* Supply critical nutrients
and succulence
* Forb fruits, seeds, and leaves
are frequently important
foods of upland game birds
In General, What Forbs Are
Currently Being Used
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Alfalfa
Small Burnet
Sanfoin
Flax
Western Yarrow
Globemallow
Penstemon
Lupine
Are We Meeting the Current
Demand?
• When starting a new business feasibility study
would help determine what the market will bear.
– Make sure the market exists before expending energy
and resources.
• What is the driving factor of the market?
–
–
–
–
Restoring rangelands?
Fire?
Money?
All of the above?
We Conducted A Survey To Better
Understand Market Demands
• Survey was distributed through Utah WRI
email list.
• 26 Respondents
• State and federal agency personnel from
UT, ID, NV, WA, and CA
Survey Introduction: For the past 10 years the Great Basin Native Plant Selection and
Increase Project has been working to develop native forbs for use in restoration and fire
rehabilitation. The project has reached a point where several of the species that were
originally listed as desiresable will soon be in commercial production and available on
the seed market. If you would please take the time to fill out this short survey it will allow
us to know the market potential for listed species.
1. Rate the species listed below as they
apply to restoration in your district.
Highly Desired Species
Rating
Penstemon (Penstemon species)
3.43
Lewis flax (Linum lewisii)
3.39
Globemallow (Sphaeralcea species)
3.36
Buckwheat (Eriogonum species)
3.18
Yarrow(Achillea millefolium)
3.11
Hawksbeard (Crepis species)
3.10
1. Rate the species listed below as they
apply to restoration in your district.
Moderately Desired Species
Rating
Milkvetch (Astragalus species)
2.82
Lupine (Lupinus species)
2.67
Biscuitroot (Lomatium Species)
2.61
Aster Species(hairy false goldenaster, Hoary
tansyaster)
2.61
Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza species)
2.59
Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregate)
2.48
Mountain Dandelion (Agoseris species)
2.39
Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii)
2.26
Yellow Composite (ex.Viguiera, Enceliopsis,
Heterotheca, species)
2.15
Bee plant (Cleome species)
2.14
1. Rate the species listed below as they
apply to restoration in your district.
Less/Not Desired Species
Rating
Phacelia (Phacelia species)
1.93
Prairie clover (Dalea Species)
Early seral annual species (Pricklypoppy,
Fiddleneck)
1.89
1.32
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Percent of Responses
2. Check the species that you would use in
restoration projects that are currently planned for
this year.
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
3. Rate the species below according to
establishment success in restoration and fire rehab
projects over the past 10 years
Successful
Moderately
Successful
Unsuccessful
Not
Available
Lewis Flax
17
6
0
2
Yarrow
16
6
0
4
Globemallow
11
7
1
5
Lupine
6
3
1
13
Penstemon
6
10
0
8
Buckwheat
5
3
0
15
Bee plant
5
6
0
12
Milkvetch
1
4
0
17
Biscuitroot
0
3
0
18
Hawksbeard
0
4
0
18
Balsamroot
0
7
1
14
Species
3. Rate the species below according to
establishment success in restoration and fire rehab
projects over the past 10 years
Species
Not Available
Buckwheat
15
Early seral annual species
19
Mountain Dandelion
18
Aster Species
19
Yellow Composites
18
Milkvetch
17
Prairie clover
21
Douglas' dustymaiden
20
Scarlet gilia
19
Phacelia
18
Biscuitroot
18
Hawksbeard
18
4. Select the species that could be useful in your
district for future restoration and fire rehab work.
• More than 50% of the responders selected the following
species
– Lewis Flax (89%)
– Common Yarrow (75%)
– Tapertip Hawksbeard (75%)
– Sulfur-flower Buckwheat (68%)
– Scarlet Globemallow (61%)
– Arrowleaf Balsamroot (57%)
– Palmer Penstemon (54%)
4. Select the species that could be useful in your
district for future restoration and fire rehab work.
• Between 25 and 50% of the responders selected the
following species
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Hooker’s Balsamroot
Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Globemallow species
Buckwheat species
Tapertip Onion
Scarlet Gilia
Biscuitroot species
– Large Flower
– Hawksbeard
– Penstemon species
– Douglas’ Dustymaiden
– Lupine Species
– Common Woolly
Sunflower
– Mule-ears
– Yellow Spiderflower
Low Cost vs. High Cost
• How many pounds would users buy according to price?
Globemallow Species
1000 lbs 500 lbs 100 lbs 50 lbs 20 lbs None
Low Cost
High Cost
Total
5
5
5
2
3
3
8,160 lbs
1
3
7
3
4
3
3,430 lbs
Number of responders that would purchase specified pounds of seed.
Low Cost vs. High Cost
• How many pounds would users buy according to price?
Lupine Species
1000 lbs 500 lbs 100 lbs 50 lbs 20 lbs None
Low Cost
High Cost
Total
2
2
4
2
3
6
3,560 lbs
0
0
3
0
10
5
500 lbs
Number of responders that would purchase specified pounds of seed.
Low Cost vs. High Cost
• How many pounds would users buy according to price?
Penstemon Species
1000 lbs 500 lbs 100 lbs 50 lbs 20 lbs None
Low Cost
High Cost
Total
4
5
4
4
4
2
7,180 lbs
1
2
6
6
6
1
3,020 lbs
Number of responders that would purchase specified pounds of seed.
Low Cost vs. High Cost
• How many pounds would users buy according to price?
Total
Includes all species surveyed
1000 lbs 500 lbs 100 lbs 50 lbs 20 lbs None
Low Cost
High Cost
Total
33
44
63
50
48
135
64,760 lbs
7
17
67
43
88
149
26,110 lbs
Number of responders that would purchase specified pounds of seed.
• We need more information about what
forbs people really want.
• Who is assuming the risk?
– Grower contracts that mitigate the risk will
result in more experienced growers taking on
these more difficult forbs.
Acknowledgements
Additional funding from the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid Grant W-82-R