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ENHANCING CRP WITH NATIVE SPECIES:
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCESKURT MERG
WDFW for
MEL ASHER and JERRY BENSONBFI Native Seeds, Moses Lake, Washington
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• Goals:– Protect Soil – Protect Water– Provide Habitat for
Wildlife
Conservation Reserve Program(CRP)
• Wildlife Value has lagged Soil & Water Value– Little variety– Low value to wildlife
Diversification
• Improve habitat for wildlife– Sage-grouse broods use areas rich in
forbs(Drut et al. 1994; Apa
1998)
– Forbs contributed 20 to 50% to the diet of pre-laying sage-grouse hens
(Barnett and Crawford 1994)
– Sharp-tailed grouse use areas that contain a high diversity of forbs and bunchgrasses (Hart et al. 1950, Klott and Lindzey 1989, Meints 1991)
Background• Methods developed by WDFW/BLM/BFI
“trial and error” converting CRP plantings to native species
• CRP was typically crested wheatgrass or other introduced grasses, and invasive annuals
• Approach requires multiple steps and a combination of chemical and mechanical controls
• Currently in use to convert approx 40,000 acres of CRP in WA for SAFE
For ReferenceBenson, J., R.T. Tveten, M. G. Asher and P.W. Dunwiddie. 2011. Shrub-Steppe and Grassland Restoration Manual for the Columbia River Basin http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01330/
Methods
1. Site Preparation – Adaptive Process used to accomplish the following goals:• Control of existing vegetation• Depletion of weed seed bank• Preparation of seed bed for planting
Chemical Fallow
• Mid-Spring Heavy Glyphosate (6-8 inches tall)• 3.3 kg a.i. / ha Glyphosate (3 qt/ac
Round-Up Pro) with AMS and NIS
Deep Tillage• Some CRP species and dense crested
wheatgrass may require tillage for better control• Breaks up sod, exposes rhizomes• Sweep-chisel or moldboard plow• One week following heavy mid-
spring herbicide application• Tillage is typically following by
harrowing
Chemical Fallow
Summer • 1.1 kg a.i. / ha Glyphosate (1 qt/ac Round-Up Pro) +
0.1 kg a.i. / ha Dicamba (2-3 oz/ac) with AMS and NIS
Grass Seed Mixes
Grass Species Eco-TypesLbs / Acre
Bluebunch Wheatgrass
Duffy Creek/Hawk Creek 5
Idaho Fescue Touchet/Tucannon 3
Sandberg Bluegrass Sprague 1.6
Prairie Junegrass Zumwalt 1TOTAL 10.6
Grass Species Eco-TypesLbs/Acre
Bluebunch wheatgrass Wahluke 3.6
Sandberg's bluegrass Frenchman Hills 1.6
Indian ricegrass Nezpar 1.4Bottlebrush squirreltail Yakama 1.1Thickspike wheatgrass Schwendimar 1.4
TOTAL 9
Spring After Grass Planting• Timing – Later spring – 50% of rosettes are 2-
3 inches• MCPA and Bromoxynil– Add mild SU like Express for purple mustard
control
Post-Plant Cheatgrass Control– Prior to seeded species emergence
• 0.25 kg a.i. / ha (8 oz/acre Round-Up Pro) + AMS and NIS
– Just after seeded species emergence• 0.1 kg a.i. / ha (3-4 oz/acre Round-Up Pro)
Summer After Grass Planting
• Depending spring rain, a follow-up application or mowing is often required to control weed flushes
Forb Seed MixesForb Species Ecotypes Lbs/AcArrowleaf balsamroot Spokane River 0.8Silky lupine Spokane River 0.4Threadleaf fleabane Duffy Creek 0.2Nineleaf biscuitroot Columbia Basin 0.3Lewis’ flax Columbia 0.8Sulfur buckwheat 0.4Western Yarrow Methow 0.1
TOTAL 3Forb Species Ecotypes Lbs/acBig sagebrush Columbia
Basin0.2
Arrowleaf balsamroot
Red Mountain 0.5
Shaggy fleabane daisy
Duffy Creek 0.2
Creamy buckwheat Duffy Creek 0.2Lewis’ flax Columbia 0.2Nineleaf biscuitroot Columbia
Basin0.2
Silky lupine Columbia Basin
0.3
Tapertip Hawksbeard 0.2TOTAL 2
Notes on Forb/Shrub Inter-seeding
• Species readily established by seed include:• Fleabane daisies• Balsamroot• Yarrow• Silky lupine• Lewis’ flax• Sagebrush
Estimated Cost Per Acre in SAFE
TREATMENTPer Acre
Cost
Summer mowing $18
Fall harrowing $12
Spring Spraying (Chemical + Application)
$27
Summer sweep chisel $14
Summer Spraying (Chemical + Application)
$17
Year 1 Planting (Grass seed + Drill Seeding)
$100 - 115
Spring Spraying (Chemical + Application)
$17
Year 2 Planting (Forb/Shrub Seed + Drill Seeding)
$120+
Summary
• Involves a multi-year, adaptive process
• Site preparation takes approx 15 months, and involves at least 4 steps
• Seedbed depletion is critical
• Staged plantings are current method