Plant Materials Today, October 2007 Issue

A Quarterly Newsletter of the Montana/Wyoming Plant Materials Program

Volume 14, Number 4, October 2007.

This is a quarterly field office newsletter to transfer plant materials technology, services, and needs. The plant materials personnel will be featuring short articles on project results, new cultivar releases and establishment techniques, seed collection, and field planting needs, and so forth. All offices are encouraged to submit articles about plant material-related activities relative to plant performance, adaptation, cultural and management techniques, etc. Direct inquiries to USDA NRCS, Plant Materials Center, 98 South River Road, Bridger, MT 59014, Phone 406-662-3579, Fax 406-662-3428; or Ron Nadwornick, State Resource Conservationist, USDA NRCS Montana State Office, Federal Bldg., Rm 443, 10 East Babcock Street, Bozeman, MT 59715-4704, Phone 406-587-6998, Fax 406-587-6761.

• Jim Jacobs New Plant Materials Specialist
• 2006 Commercial Seed Production of NRCS Releases in Montana and Wyoming
• Farm Credit Service Tours Bridger Plant materials Center (BPMC)
• Hilger Field Evaluation Planting (FEP)
• Invasive Species Pamphlets Available
• Interpreting Tests for Salt-Affected Water and Soil
• Five Myths Concerning Native Grass Varieties
• Through a Looking Glass

This newsletter is also available in Adobe Acrobat format.

Plant Materials Today, October 2007 (PDF; 110 KB)

Jim Jacobs New Plant Materials Specialist

Jim Jacobs was the invasive species specialist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Montana. He was responsible for the development and transfer of technology predominantly for noxious weed management for producers in the state. Prior to his appointment in April 2006, Jim spent 12 years researching ecologically based integrated management of invasive plants at Montana State University in Bozeman. His work included combining herbicide control, biological control, revegetation, prescribed fire, irrigation, fertilizer application, and grazing treatments on rangeland, forest, and riparian systems.

Jim developed an interest in natural resource conservation growing up in the deciduous forest country on the rolling hills of the Ohio River Valley in southwestern Ohio where he experienced the loss of natural communities to development. This led him to study biology at Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin where he earned his Bachelors of Science in 1978. During that time he also worked as a guide and packer in the Bob Marshal Wilderness in Montana where he moved after college. He earned his Masters (1989) and Doctoral (1992) degrees at Montana State University, Bozeman, with emphasis in botany and ecology. During this period, he also contracted timber stand improvement and surveys for rare, endangered and sensitive plants on the Gallatin National Forest in Southwestern Montana..

By Jim Briggs, Western Region Plant Materials Specialist.

2006 Commercial Seed Production of NRCS Releases in Montana and Wyoming

In Montana and Wyoming, the 2006 estimated commercial seed production of certified and common seed of all Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released cultivars and germplasms totaled 1,772,897 pounds--up 12% from 2005 production. Sale of the seed generated revenues of $7,275,475. Montana growers produced 1,314,408 pounds of 25 releases, generating $4,719,286 or approximately 65% of the total dollars of all NRCS releases produced in Montana & Wyoming. Wyoming growers produced 458,489 pounds of 27 NRCS releases worth $2,556,189--which is about 26% of the total pounds and 35% of the total monies of all NRCS releases produced in Wyoming and Montana. In 2006, revenues were up almost 35% over 2005.

The most dollars generated from seed sales in Montana was for 'Rimrock' Indian ricegrass (26%), 'Bozoisky-Select' Russian wildrye (19%), ‘Rosana’ western wheatgass (7%), and ‘Secar’ Snake River wheatgrass and ‘Lodorm’ green needlegrass (each 6%). In Wyoming, ‘Critana’ thickspike wheatgrass (11%), 'Chemung' crown vetch and ‘Ephraim’ crested wheatgrass (each 10%), ‘Garnet’ mountain brome (9%), and Bozoisky-Select Russian wildrye (7%) accounted for the majority of the dollars generated from seed sales. Seed of these conservation plants was commercially available for a variety of environmental applications. The amount of revenues generated by the commercial seed production of NRCS conservation plants provided a viable enterprise for Montana and Wyoming farmers.

By Jim Jacobs, Plant Materials Specialist.

Farm Credit Service Tours Bridger Plant Materials Center (BPMC)

On Tuesday, July 17th, the Northwest area of Farm Credit Services (FCS) met at the Bridger PMC for a tour of the facilities and ongoing research. The tour was in conjunction with the FCS’s annual convention being held in Red Lodge. Forty-four people from Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho attended the 2-hour tour and were very interested in what takes place at the BPMC. Roger explained the PMC’s history and mission, Joe showed off the greenhouse and woody plant material collections, Susan gave a tour of seed production and research fields, and Darren Plant Materials Today - Volume 14, No 4 October 2007 demonstrated seed cleaning equipment and what it takes to get a seed order packaged for shipment. All the participants had a much better understanding of our accomplishments and the current conservation issues we try to address on a daily basis.

By Roger Hybner, Plant Materials Center (PMC) Manager.

Hilger Field Evaluation Planting (FEP)

The Montana NRCS, in cooperation with the Hilger Hereford Ranch, initiated a Field Evaluation Planting (FEP) in 2004 on a Douglas fir/ponderosa pine forest site near Helena, Montana. The purpose of the replicated plot plantings was to evaluate the effectiveness of 17-20 selected grass and forb species on two disturbed (logged and prescribed burned) forest sites. The two sites were: a south facing slope dominated by ponderosa pine and a north facing slope dominated by Douglas fir. The plots were evaluated in late August to estimate establishment and survival of the species three years after planting.

The top five performers, based on the 2007 stand establishment and vigor estimates for the ponderosa pine site, were: 1) Secar Snake River wheatgrass, 2) ‘Goldar’ bluebunch wheatgrass, 3) Critana thickspike wheatgrass, 4) ‘Vavilov’ Siberian wheatgrass and 5) ‘Hycrest’ crested wheatgrass. On the Douglas fir site, the top five performers were: 1) a mix of Rosana western wheatgrass, Lodorm green needlegrass, Garnet mountain brome, 2) ‘Regar’ meadow brome, 3) Rosana western wheatgrass, 4) ‘Durar’ hard fescue, and 5) ‘Lutana’ cicer milkvetch. The results suggest that these species are most effective for reducing/controlling erosion on forested sites disturbed by logging activities and fire, limiting noxious weed invasion on disturbed forest sites, and increasing forage resources for both wildlife and domestic livestock. Cattle grazing has been deferred on the sites, but they will be grazed this fall. Heavy wildlife use was apparent on some of the seeded species including orchardgrass and the leguminous forbs, which has affected their establishment and vigor. Further evaluations are planned for the 5th and 10th years after planting. For more information on the planting contact Bob Logar, State Forester, or Jim Jacobs, Plant Materials Specialist.

By Bob Logar, Forester.

Invasive Species Pamphlets Available

The Montana NRCS recently printed pamphlets about the ecology and management for 10 of Montana’s noxious weeds. The weeds are Russian and spotted knapweed, leafy spurge, Canada thistle, Dalmatian toadflax, yellow toadflax, houndstongue, field bindweed, perennial pepperweed, and dyer’s woad. The pamphlets cover identification, biology, habitiat, reproduction, invasiveness, and the importance of population management. There is also the latest information on how to manage them using herbicides, biological control agents, grazing management, and cultural methods. There are suggestions on how to integrate different control methods to optimize reducing weed populations and improve productivity on infested sites. The pamphlets are technical in nature, but are written to be understood by people without technical backgrounds. The pamphlets can also be found as technical notes on the Montana NRCS web site under technical resources, ecological sciences, and invasive species. Technical notes for whitetop, salt cedar, and common St. Johnswort are also on the web site.

By Jim Jacobs, Plant Materials Specialist.

Interpreting Tests for Salt-Affected Water and Soil

Let’s say you’re managing a tree and shrub planting and suspect you’re dealing with salt-affected water or soil and decide you need tests to determine the extent of the problem. Where is the nearest analytical lab and do they offer the tests you’ll need? What tests should you request? What do those tests results really mean? How do you convert from one unit of measure to another? How do you correct a potential salinity problem?

Since the Plant Materials Center staff probably answers more questions on water and soil salinity than any other single topic, we decided it was time to do something to help field staff and landowners help themselves. PMC staff recently collaborated with Tom Pick (MT NRCS Water Quality Specialist) and Robert Logar (MT NRCS State Staff Forester) to develop a series of three Technical Notes to help field staff and landowners specifically address these questions. These “guides” walk the user through the sampling and interpretation process, as well as provide basic management options based on the salinity (saltiness) and/or sodicity (sodium) levels found in the samples. Technical Note MT-60, Testing and Interpreting Salt-Affected Soil for Tree and Shrub Plantings, is designed for use by field staff and landowners alike, providing limited explanation and basic guidelines for testing salt-affected soils. Examples of analytical tests, as well as interpretations of the results, are provided. Technical Note MT-61, Testing and Interpreting Salt-Affected Water For Tree and Shrub Plantings, provides essentially the same information as it pertains to water quality. Technical Note MT-62, Determining the Suitability of Salt-Affected Water and Soil For Tree and Shrub Plantings, is somewhat more “heavy duty”, designed for those seeking more explanation and detail than provided in the other two publications. Although all three documents use technical terms and scientific jargon to explain the topic, the concepts are simple if the reader spends a little time digesting the content. Look for all three documents in the near future on the Montana NRCS website under Plant Materials Technical Notes.

Thanks to all the reviewers, especially John Monahan (Jordan FO), Chuck Roloff (Big Timber FO), Katrina Johnson (Wibaux FO), Kalyn Bohle (Baker FO), Robert Kilian (Miles City A.O), Steve VanFossen (Miles City AO), Roger Hybner (MT PMC Manager), Shannon Majerus (Deer Lodge Valley CD), Dan Ogle (ID PMS), Loren St. John (ID PMC Manager), Mike Knudson (ND PMC Forester), and Craig Stange (ND State Staff Forester). Taking time from your busy schedules was greatly appreciated!

By Joe Scianna, PMC Research Horticulturist.

Five Myths Concerning Native Grass Varieties

This is a continuation from the BPMC’s July newsletter, and reprinted with thanks from the Proceedings of the Native Plant Summit VII held in Fargo, North Dakota, in September 2003 (Revised 2005).

July’s newsletter contained these myths: 1) Varieties of native grass are too aggressive and do not perform well in mixtures; 2) Varieties of native grass will not produce seed because they are too competitive and will remain vegetative; 3) Varieties of native grass are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

4. Varieties of native grass do not perform as well as sources from local populations and will not persist.

Proven varieties generally perform better than local populations in terms of ease of establishment, seedling vigor, disease resistance, biomass yield, seed production, and reduced lodging because of initial selection and extensive field testing. These are all very important plant traits which benefit wildlife habitat and conservation cover. Varieties must be field-tested and have their performance documented prior to formal release. Persistence or life span of adapted varieties is no less than sources from local populations.

5. Genetic diversity of the species is decreased when using native grass varieties or Natural Germplasms.

A single variety or Natural Germplasm release will not completely represent the genetic diversity present in the species, but a small population of plants that trace to a single site or a limited number of sites (local populations) may have an extremely narrow gene base and high genetic vulnerability. It is also true some varieties were developed primarily for forage benefits and may have been selected for a relatively narrow range of traits. However, current procedures used by most PMCs for release of native grasses or other species guard against low genetic diversity. Plants used in a new release are collected over a fairly wide range of environments. New regional releases from the Bismarck PMC contain more genetic diversity than would sources from a limited number of isolated local populations. Release categories for Natural Germplasms eligible for seed certification include “source identified”, “selected”, and “tested”. The “selected” category refers to limited phenotypic selection and does not encompass intensive recurrent selection. In nature, plant selection is an ongoing ecological process and whenever seed is harvested from any source, plant selection is occurring. Finally, developed seed sources will occupy only a very small proportion of the total plant population that exists for the species. As such, any outcrossing with plants of the same species indigenous to a local area would have low impact on genetic diversity of that species in most instances. Local populations where inbreeding depression is a concern would benefit from outcrossing of these genetically diverse Natural Germplasms.

By Dwight Tober, North Dakota Plant Materials Specialist.

Through a Looking Glass

The BPMC’s greenhouse glass was entirely replaced this fall due to an installation error during construction in 1987. Pull tabs on the original glass were not opened and seals were adversely affected over time. Rain water was leaking through at the juncture of the glass and the main building and running very close to electrical outlets inside the building causing serious safety concerns. The improvement in sealing the greenhouse will result in thousands of dollars being saved in heating costs in the winter. We would like to thank the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Montana, Inc., MT NRCS, and the National Office of the Plant Materials Program for funding this project.

By Roger Hybner, PMC Manager.

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Last Modified: 06/24/2008