Wildflower Species for PotentialAgriculture, Landscaping ... · Rocky Mtn. penstemon...
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Wildflower Species for Potential Agriculture, Landscaping, and Reclamation Applications In Southeast Wyoming Brian Sebade 1 and Jennifer Thompson 1 1 University of Wyoming Extension, 3520 S. 3 rd St. Laramie, WY 82070, [email protected] ABSTRACT • Wildflowers can benefit agricultural producers, new homeowners, and small acreage landowners by attracting and feeding pollinator insects. This project can be directly tied to management practices and decisions for clientele in Southeast Wyoming. The objectives of this project are: 1) Compare the establishment of two different seed mixes (Wyoming Wildflower Mix v. Western Wildflower Mix). 2) Determine which treatment provides the best establishment of wildflowers. 3) Once the wildflowers have established, examine if native Wyoming wildflowers attract more or less pollinators than non-Wyoming native wildflowers. Seeds were planted into six of the twelve plots (7m x 7m) in the fall of 2015 and the other six were planted in the spring of 2016. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design (3 fall native plots, 3 spring native plots, 3 fall commercial plots, and 3 spring commercial plots). Seed mixes were planted at similar seeding rates for each plot and each specific mix (native or non-native) was planted at the same rate prior to precipitation events. Currently fall seeding has led to better establishment for both commercial and native wildflowers. The total number of weeds for each plot regardless of commercial or Wyoming native status is almost the same (Native plots 15.3 weeds/.25m^2, SD=4.07 and commercial 15.0 weeds/.25m^2, SD=4.07). The total number of commercial wildflowers (6.38 flowers/.25m^2, SD=4.87) established is greater than native wildflowers (1.1 flowers/.25m^2 SD=.99) established. We plan to continue monitoring in 2017 for changes since many Wyoming native wildflowers germinate after two years. BACKGROUND Wildflowers can benefit agricultural producers, new homeowners, and small acreage landowners by attracting and feeding pollinator insects. Wildflowers can also increase aesthetics, grazing for wildlife, and stabilize barren soil. This project can be directly tied to management practices and decisions for clientele in Southeast Wyoming. We have set up the study to mimic a scenario that would be a similar application for many landowners and managers. Results from the study will have the ability to be directly applied to stakeholders in Southeast Wyoming. OBJECTIVES • Compare the establishment of two different seed mixes (Wyoming Wildflower Mix v. Western Wildflower Mix • Determine which treatment provides the best establishment of wildflowers • Once the wildflowers have established, examine if native Wyoming wildflowers attract more or less pollinators than non-Wyoming native wildflowers • Is this a viable application for landowners, land managers, and agriculture producers in southeast Wyoming METHODS The commercial mix that was used was labeled “Western wildflower mix,” and contained these mixes tend to vary greatly and are not native to Wyoming. The native mix we used contained species native to Wyoming. A table is listed below for the species used in the study. The different mixes were broadcast seeded in both the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016. Prior to planting the soil was disked and no weed control was performed at any time. Weed control was not preformed to emulate the most basic approach for reseeding and to provide a baseline for future studies. Seeds were planted prior to forecasted precipitation events. Seed mixes were planted at similar seeding rates for each plot, and each specific mix was planted at the same rate. Twelve 7-meter by 7-meter (23 × 23 feet) plots were used in a randomized complete block design (three fall-planted native plots, three spring native plots, three fall commercial plots, and three spring commercial plots). Plants were monitored for establishment, desired species, and density via a line transect at three points using a 0.25-square-meter (.25m 2 =2.7 square feet) hoop. Weedy plant species were also monitored during this process. No supplemental water or irrigation was applied at any time during the trial. RESULTS CONCLUSIONS • We plan to monitor the plots during the 2017 growing season to collect better pollinator information, and to record changes in establishment, density, number of weedy plants, and specific wildflower species of each mix. Seeds that dropped to the ground from mature plants in 2016 may aid in the establishment and density of wildflower species this growing season. There is also a chance that seeds planted in fall 2015 and spring 2016 have not yet germinated and might provide an increase in plant numbers. As stated in the results above, the number of weeds within each plot is quite substantial regardless of treatment and should be recognized as a potential issue. landowners and managers of large and small acreages can decrease the number of weeds by controlling weeds prior and after seed have been planted. Wyoming Wildflower Mix Scientific Name Perennial or Annual Flower Color Prairie cone flower Ratibida columnifera Perennial Yellow and occasional red Missouri evening primrose Oenothera macrocarpa Perennial Yellow Rocky Mountain penstemon Penstemon strictus Perennial Blue Black -eyed Susan Rubbeckia hirta Perennial Yellow Firecracker penstemon Penstemon eatonii Perennial Red Golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria Perennial Yellow with reddish to brown spots Western Wildflower Mix Dwarf cornflower Centaurea cyanus Annual blue Deerhorn clarkia Clarkia pulchella Annual Pink -white Clarkia Clarkia ungiuculata Annual Pink -lavender Plains coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria Annual Yellow with reddish to brown spots California poppy Eschscholzia californica Annual Yellow and orange Perennial gaillardia Gaillardia aristata Perennial Yellow to red Annual gaillardia Gillardia pulchella Annual Yelow to red Globe gilia Gilia capitata Annual Blue Candy tuft Iberis umbellata Annual White, pink, and purple Blue flax Linum perenne Perennial Blue Perennial lupine Lupinus perennis Perennial Blue Polka dot mix cornflower Machaeranthera tanacetifolia Annual Purple, pink, and White Evening primrose (Dwarf) Oenothera missouriensis Perennial Yellow Evening primrose Oenothera pallida Perennial White Corn Poppy Papaver rhoeas Annual White, pink, and red Palmer penstemon Penstemon palmeri Perennial Pink Rocky Mtn. penstemon Penstemon strictus Perennial Blue Prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera Perennial Yellow and sometimes red Greenthread Thelesperma filifolium Annual Yellow Showy goldeneye Viguiera multiflora Perennial Yellow Table 1 lists the species used in each mix with flower color and if plants were annuals or perennials. Table 1 Currently fall seeding has led to better establishment for both wildflowers mixes. The total number of weeds for each plot regardless of western wildflower mix or Wyoming wildflower mix is almost the same (Native plots 15.3 weeds/.25m^2, SD=4.07 and commercial 15.0 weeds/.25m^2, SD=4.07). The total number of wildflowers established in the western mix (6.38 flowers/.25m^2, SD=4.87) is greater than the number of wildflowers established in the Wyoming mix plots (1.1 flowers/.25m^2 SD=.99). The establishment of of flowers in the western mix plots is exclusively of annual wildflowers, where as the Wyoming mix is perennial plants. -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 1 2 3 4 Number of Wilflowers Number of plants that established for each treatment. Treatment #1 is spring Wyoming mix, treatment #2 is fall Wyoming mix, treatment #3 is spring western mix, and treatment #4 fall western mix. Number of Wildflower and Weeds Established # of Wildlfower # of Weeds Plot layout at the Laramie Research and Extension Center Greenhouse Complex
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WildflowerSpeciesforPotential Agriculture,Landscaping,andReclamationApplicationsInSoutheastWyoming
BrianSebade1 andJenniferThompson11UniversityofWyomingExtension,3520S.3rd St.Laramie,WY82070,[email protected]
ABSTRACT• Wildflowerscanbenefitagriculturalproducers,newhomeowners,andsmall
acreagelandownersbyattractingandfeedingpollinatorinsects.ThisprojectcanbedirectlytiedtomanagementpracticesanddecisionsforclienteleinSoutheastWyoming.Theobjectivesofthisprojectare:1)Comparetheestablishmentoftwodifferentseedmixes(WyomingWildflowerMixv.WesternWildflowerMix).2)Determinewhichtreatmentprovidesthebestestablishmentofwildflowers.3)Oncethewildflowershaveestablished,examineifnativeWyomingwildflowersattractmoreorlesspollinatorsthannon-Wyomingnativewildflowers.Seedswereplantedintosixofthetwelveplots(7mx7m)inthefallof2015andtheothersixwereplantedinthespringof2016.Plotswerearrangedinarandomizedcompleteblockdesign(3fallnativeplots,3springnativeplots,3fallcommercialplots,and3springcommercialplots).Seedmixeswereplantedatsimilarseedingratesforeachplotandeachspecificmix(nativeornon-native)wasplantedatthesameratepriortoprecipitationevents.Currentlyfallseedinghasledtobetterestablishmentforbothcommercialandnativewildflowers.ThetotalnumberofweedsforeachplotregardlessofcommercialorWyomingnativestatusisalmostthesame(Nativeplots15.3weeds/.25m^2,SD=4.07andcommercial15.0weeds/.25m^2,SD=4.07).Thetotalnumberofcommercialwildflowers(6.38flowers/.25m^2,SD=4.87)establishedisgreaterthannativewildflowers(1.1flowers/.25m^2SD=.99)established.Weplantocontinuemonitoringin2017forchangessincemanyWyomingnativewildflowersgerminateaftertwoyears.
BACKGROUNDWildflowerscanbenefitagriculturalproducers,newhomeowners,andsmallacreagelandownersbyattractingandfeedingpollinatorinsects.Wildflowerscanalsoincreaseaesthetics,grazingforwildlife,andstabilizebarrensoil.ThisprojectcanbedirectlytiedtomanagementpracticesanddecisionsforclienteleinSoutheastWyoming.Wehavesetupthestudytomimicascenariothatwouldbeasimilarapplicationformanylandownersandmanagers.ResultsfromthestudywillhavetheabilitytobedirectlyappliedtostakeholdersinSoutheastWyoming.
OBJECTIVES• Comparetheestablishmentoftwodifferentseedmixes(WyomingWildflower
Mixv.WesternWildflowerMix
• Determinewhichtreatmentprovidesthebestestablishmentofwildflowers
• Oncethewildflowershaveestablished,examineifnativeWyomingwildflowersattractmoreorlesspollinatorsthannon-Wyomingnativewildflowers
• Isthisaviableapplicationforlandowners,landmanagers,andagricultureproducersinsoutheastWyoming
METHODSThe commercialmixthatwasusedwaslabeled“Westernwildflowermix,”andcontainedthesemixestendtovarygreatlyandarenotnativetoWyoming.ThenativemixweusedcontainedspeciesnativetoWyoming.Atableislistedbelowforthespeciesusedinthestudy.Thedifferentmixeswerebroadcastseededinboththefallof2015andspringof2016.Priortoplantingthesoilwasdiskedandnoweedcontrolwasperformedatanytime.Weedcontrolwasnotpreformedtoemulatethemostbasicapproachforreseedingandtoprovideabaselineforfuturestudies.Seedswereplantedpriortoforecastedprecipitationevents.Seedmixeswereplantedatsimilarseedingratesforeachplot,andeachspecificmixwasplantedatthesamerate.Twelve7-meterby7-meter(23× 23feet) plotswereusedinarandomizedcompleteblockdesign(threefall-plantednativeplots,threespringnativeplots,threefallcommercialplots,andthreespringcommercialplots).Plantsweremonitoredforestablishment,desiredspecies,anddensityviaalinetransectatthreepointsusinga0.25-square-meter(.25m2=2.7squarefeet) hoop.Weedyplantspecieswerealsomonitoredduringthisprocess.Nosupplementalwaterorirrigationwasappliedatanytimeduringthetrial.
RESULTS
CONCLUSIONS• Weplantomonitortheplotsduringthe2017growingseasontocollectbetter
pollinatorinformation,andtorecordchangesinestablishment,density,numberofweedyplants,andspecificwildflowerspeciesofeachmix.Seedsthatdroppedtothegroundfrommatureplantsin2016mayaidintheestablishmentanddensityofwildflowerspeciesthisgrowingseason.Thereisalsoachancethatseedsplantedinfall2015andspring2016havenotyetgerminatedandmightprovideanincreaseinplantnumbers.Asstatedintheresultsabove,thenumberofweedswithineachplotisquitesubstantialregardlessoftreatmentandshouldberecognizedasapotentialissue.landownersandmanagersoflargeandsmallacreagescandecreasethenumberofweedsbycontrollingweedspriorandafterseedhavebeenplanted.
WyomingWildflowerMix ScientificName Perennial orAnnual FlowerColor
Prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera Perennial Yellowandoccasionalred
Missourievening primrose Oenothera macrocarpa Perennial Yellow
RockyMountainpenstemon Penstemon strictus Perennial Blue
Black-eyedSusan Rubbeckia hirta Perennial Yellow
Firecrackerpenstemon Penstemon eatonii Perennial Red
Goldentickseed Coreopsistinctoria Perennial Yellowwithreddishtobrownspots
WesternWildflowerMixDwarfcornflower Centaurea cyanus Annual blue
Deerhorn clarkia Clarkiapulchella Annual Pink-white
Clarkia Clarkiaungiuculata Annual Pink-lavender
Plainscoreopsis Coreopsistinctoria Annual Yellowwithreddishtobrownspots
Californiapoppy Eschscholzia californica Annual Yellowand orange
Perennialgaillardia Gaillardiaaristata Perennial Yellowtored
Annualgaillardia Gillardia pulchella Annual Yelow tored
Globegilia Gilia capitata Annual Blue
Candytuft Iberis umbellata Annual White,pink,andpurple
Blueflax Linum perenne Perennial Blue
Perenniallupine Lupinus perennis Perennial Blue
Polkadotmixcornflower Machaerantheratanacetifolia
Annual Purple, pink,andWhite
Eveningprimrose(Dwarf) Oenothera missouriensis Perennial Yellow
Eveningprimrose Oenothera pallida Perennial White
CornPoppy Papaverrhoeas Annual White,pink,andred
Palmerpenstemon Penstemon palmeri Perennial Pink
RockyMtn.penstemon Penstemon strictus Perennial Blue
Prairieconeflower Ratibida columnifera Perennial Yellowandsometimesred
Greenthread Thelesperma filifolium Annual Yellow
Showygoldeneye Viguiera multiflora Perennial Yellow
Table1liststhespeciesusedineachmixwithflowercolorandifplantswereannualsorperennials.
Table1
Currentlyfallseedinghasledtobetterestablishmentforbothwildflowersmixes.ThetotalnumberofweedsforeachplotregardlessofwesternwildflowermixorWyomingwildflowermixisalmostthesame(Nativeplots15.3weeds/.25m^2,SD=4.07andcommercial15.0weeds/.25m^2,SD=4.07).Thetotalnumberofwildflowersestablishedinthewesternmix(6.38flowers/.25m^2,SD=4.87)isgreaterthanthenumberofwildflowersestablishedintheWyomingmixplots(1.1flowers/.25m^2SD=.99).Theestablishmentofofflowersinthewesternmixplotsisexclusivelyofannualwildflowers,whereastheWyomingmixisperennialplants.
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Num
bero
fWilflowers
Numberofplantsthatestablishedforeachtreatment.Treatment#1isspringWyomingmix,treatment#2isfallWyomingmix,treatment#3is
springwesternmix,andtreatment#4fallwesternmix.
NumberofWildflowerandWeedsEstablished
#ofWildlfower#ofWeeds
PlotlayoutattheLaramieResearchandExtensionCenterGreenhouseComplex
