Introduction to Prairie Restoration and Methodology
  1. Why restore prairie?
    • Usually focus on revegetating.
     
     
     
     
  2. Restoration methodology
     
     
    1. Planning: (1 year in advance, plan ahead to post-plant mgmt.)
      1. site size
      2. topography (elevation: drainage, fire mvmt)
      3. soils (original soils?, pesricide residues?)
      4. proximity to existing environments (trees on S side; edges)
      5. existing flora and fauna (natives vs. aliens)
      6. importing flora and fauna (local genotypes)
      7. rationale (ecosystem? garden?)
       
       
    2. Site preparation
      1. soil disturbance: may vary depending upon pre-existing vegetation and current soil condition.
        • plow (completely turn over upper layer of soil, loosen & remove debris)
        • disc (cut into soil) can bring up weed seeds, erosion
        • burn
        • mow
        • soil packing (reduce air pockets, dry out seeds)
        • none (no-till disturbance, needs transplanter; but weeds may persist)
      2. weed elimination
        • herbicide or not? (selective woody honeysuckle, buckthorn)
        • exposing weed seed bank (let germinate, then burn or herbicide)
      3. cover crops (annual rye, oats, avoid winter rye - toxins)
       
       
    3. Obtaining seed
      1. Reasons for locally obtaining seed: (within 80 km, 50 mile radius) USFS seed zones
      2. Adapted to edaphic (soil) gtadients, biotic (insects, soil pathogens)
      3. native seed collection by hand (hanling and storage methods?)
        locality, permission
      4. mechanical harvesting (combines - Fermi, Midewin, Nachusa)
      5. commercial dealers (less chaff)
       
       
    4. Planting
      1. timing-Fall vs. Spring (stratification, scarification) inoculate legumes w Rhuzobium
      2. methods:
        • Drill seeding/Interseeding (Nesbit reduce disturbance) pulled by tractor; 2nd pass at right angle to reduce row effect
        • Broadcast seeding-mechanical vs. hand (mix with carrier for bulk & visibility)
        • Seedling planting (labor intensive)
      3. mulching (straw)
     
     
  3. Managing the restored prairie
     
     
    • Abiotic disturbances:
      • Burning
      • Mowing
       
       
    • Biotic disturbances:
      • Grazing
      • Burrowing
      • Other
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