Get reliable rangeland science

Inconsistent results from semi-arid rangeland seedings are usually ascribed to a lack of adequate precipitation. Range scientists have traditionally associated potential seeding success with annual precipitation amounts and associated vegetation zones. Because seedings usually fail due to lack of plant establishment, advances in seeding technologies must be based on understanding seed germination timing and seedling development in relation to environmental conditions such as soil water availability and temperature. One example of how this can work was the determination of how germination timing, seminal root growth rates, and development of adventitious roots affect native and introduced grass establishment in the Sonoran Desert grassland. Seed and plant response was related to probability of recurrent summer rainfall, which resulted in the simple recommendation to seed after, rather than before the onset of summer rains. Scientists are now determining the relationship between seeding success and other concerns, such as wind erosion, and specific weather patterns. Tools are being developed to predict weather patterns and environmental conditions associated with seeding outcomes. Scientists are coupling seed and plant response to environmental conditions to predict what kinds of weather patterns support plant establishment for various species. In addition, scientists are determining how to modify germination timing to avoid seedling mortality during post-germination frost or drought. Studies of management processes of funding and approval for range seeding are informing ways to package technology to enhance its application. These advances in science, technology, and applications promise to increase probability of rangeland seeding success.