N RANCHING
atural Resources
Native grass seeding results like these have been possible in South Texas using adapted native seed sources. Photo courtesy South Texas Natives (photo from restoration planting, Wilson County).
South Texas Natives Rangeland Plantings: Observations from 5 Years and Counting By Anthony Falk, Forrest Smith, and Keith Pawelek, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
I
N 2008, SOUTH TEXAS NATIVES (STN) BEGAN EXPERIMENT- ing with the best methods to restore native plants on South Texas rangelands, using locally adapted
native seeds. We made 7 plantings on 7 soil types in 6 counties
across the region. Since these fi rst plantings, STN has made 40 more plantings. Each of these plantings is different because of a new
soil type, a new seedbed preparation or the need for a different seed mix. While restoration sites are never exactly alike, there
were 2 common factors in every planting. We used lo- cally adapted native seeds and, after planting, we left all of the sites alone with no supplemental watering and little purposeful management. As is typical of South Texas, rainfall over the last
5 years has been anything but consistent, with only a handful of wet years in a time of overall prolonged and extreme drought. On all of our planting sites, data has been collected
each June and September. During each data collection period, we measured the number of plants per square foot and we used step-point transects to quantify per- cent ground cover.
66 The Cattleman February 2015 We were most interested in the number of seeded
species that established per square foot and in the rela- tive amount of cover provided by seeded, volunteer and non-native species. Based on 5 years of data collected on nearly 50
restoration plantings in South Texas, there are a few important fi ndings we are able to report.
Even native species need rain Rainfall is the most important and often forgotten
factor in vegetation response. Even though we are planting native species, they still need rain to establish and grow. Planting at the wrong time of the year — the times when we historically do not get rain — is a recipe for failure in the early growth stages. When looking at success rates relative to planting
date, we are confi dent that plantings made from late August to early October have the best chance of quick success. So, why is September the best month to plant? Ask
any old timer how many times he or she can remem- ber a dove season opening without rain. This period is simply the most reliable period for rainfall in South Texas, which translates to reseeding success.
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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