An equal number of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) seeds were deposited in plots by fecal or broadcast seeding and the germination and establishment of these seeds was monitored to determine which seeding method was more successful in this area. The number of intact seeds in cattle fecal pats was determined and the number of broadcast seeds were adjusted to match this amount, however, the percentage of germinable seeds was greater for the broadcast seeded plots because cattle digestion reduced the number of germinable seeds by 30%. Regardless of the reduction in the number of germinable seeds, fecal seeded plots had more, larger established switchgrass seedlings than broadcast seeded plots both years after seeding occurred. The results of this study suggest that fecal seeding could be a successful method for distributing switchgrass seeds to rangelands. However, the authors caution that the experimental plots used in this study may not realistically represent rangeland conditions as they had limited competition, due to the control of other vegetation prior to seeding, and increased water availability, due to twice weekly irrigation of plots.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.