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Home → Native Plant Network → Journal → Articles → Seeding rate affects establishment of native perennial legumes in the upper midwestern US

Native Plants Journal - Article

Seeding rate affects establishment of native perennial legumes in the upper midwestern US

Abstract:

In Minnesota, perennial native legumes (Fabaceae) differed in population and yield response to seeding rates of 14, 67, 135, 275, and 538 pure live seeds (PLS)/m2 (1.3, 6.3, 12.5, 25, and 50 PLS/ft2) when seeded in cultivated seedbeds with little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium (Michx.) Nash [Poaceae]). Average seeding-year populations were greatest for Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacM. ex B.L. Robins. & Fern.) (131 plants/m2); intermediate and similar for false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L.), wild blue indigo (Baptisia
australis (L.) R. Br), and wild senna (Senna hebecarpa (Fern.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby) (average of 72 plants/m2); and least for purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea Vent) (27 plants/m2). Seeding-year populations of all legumes increased linearly as seeding rate increased. Second-year biomass yield of legumes in mixture with little bluestem ranged from 1.1 Mg/ha (0.5 tons/ac) for purple prairie clover to 5.6 Mg/ha (2.5 tons/ac) for Illinois bundleflower.

Fischbach JA, Ehlke NJ, Peterson PR, Wyse DL, Swanson DR, Sheaffer CC. 2006. Seeding rate affects establishment of native perennial legumes in the upper midwestern US. Native Plants Journal 7(1):61-68.

Issue & Pages:

Spring 2006 Pages: 61-68

Article Download:

7-1NPJ61-68.pdf (PDF document)

Authors:

  • Jason A Fischbach
  • Nancy J Ehlke
  • Paul R Peterson
  • Donald L Wyse
  • Douglas R Swanson
  • Craig C Sheaffer

Keywords:

biomass yield, plant populations, false indigo, wild blue indigo, Illinois bundleflower, purple prairie clover, wild senna, Fabaceae