Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Endemic plants--Reintroduction--Iowa--Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge; Prairie restoration--Iowa--Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge; Side-oats grama--Iowa--Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge;
Abstract
A major problem early in prairie reconstruction is weed competition. Research has shown that mowing in the first year can increase establishment and survival of prairie plants. The use of nurse crops (companion crops) has been suggested as an alternative to mowing for weed suppression. The goal of this study was to examine various seeding rates of B. curtipendula, as a nurse crop in mowed and unmowed plots to determine if it suppressed weeds and aided in the establishment of natives. We hypothesized that increasing the seeding rate of B curtipendula will reduce weed growth and promote an increase in native seedling numbers. In addition we hypothesized that number of the native seedlings in mowed plots with no B. curtipendula seed will be similar to unmowed plots seeded with B. curtipendula. Seeds of 25 different species of grasses and forbs were broadcast on June 18th at Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge at a seeding rate of22 seeds/m2 . B. curtipendula was also broadcast seeded at rates of 0, 22, 43, 173, and 345 seeds/m2 . The site was mowed mid-August of the first growing season and approximately every three weeks of the second growing season. Sampling was done in early September 2005 and in June and mid August 2006. Native seedling counts, biomass clippings, basal cover, and photosynthetic light were measured. Varying seeding rates of Bouteloua curtipendula had no significant effect on native species composition or weed biomass. Mowing had negative effects on native species composition, especially native grasses.
Year of Submission
2009
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Department of Biology
Department
Tallgrass Prairie Center
First Advisor
Daryl Smith, Chair
Date Original
2009
Object Description
1 PDF file (x, 107 pages)
Copyright
©2009 Ryan Leon Welch
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Welch, Ryan Leon, "The effects of varying seeding rates of Bouteloua curtipendula and mowing on native plant establishment in a new prairie reconstruction" (2009). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 140.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/140
