Shepherdia (canadensis)

John T. Harrington Professor New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center P. O. Box 359 Mora, New Mexico 87732-0359 575-387-2319 575-387-9012 (fax) joharrin@nmsu.edu www.arborday.org

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Family Scientific Name:	Elaeagnaceae
Family Common Name:	Oleaster Family
Scientific Name:	Shepherdia canadensis (L.)Nutt.
Common Name:	russet buffaloberry
Species Code:	SHCA
General Distribution:	Russet buffaloberry is an understory shrub found on well-drained soils in the United States and Canada east to Nova Scotia, north to Alaska, and south to the southern Rocky Mountain portions of Arizona and New Mexico (Walkup 1991).
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	164 ml conetainer
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Height: 15 to 20 cm Caliper: 2 to 3 mm Root System: Firm root plug.
Propagule Collection:	Red berries (an achene covered in a fleshy perianth) ripen in July (Walkup 1991).
Propagule Processing:	Fruits can be macerated with water and separated from pulp by screening or gravity separation in water (Thilenius et al. 1974).
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds are scarified in concentrated sulfuric acid for 5 minutes and then stratified 14 weeks at 2 to 5 C. Acid scarification involves submersing seeds in a sufficient volume of concentrated sulfuric acid to more than cover the seeds, stirring the seeds vigorously for at least 30 seconds, and letting the seeds soak for the remainder of the 5-minute treatment. Seeds are then strained over a waste container and waste acid is disposed of as hazardous waste. The seeds are rinsed under running tap water for several minutes and then soaked briefly in several changes of fresh water. Seeds are then soaked overnight (8 to 12 hours) and cold-stratified naked (without media) in a self-sealing polybag, which is sealed, except for a small opening to allow some airflow. Germination occurs during stratification, especially in the later stages of the treatment. After 4 weeks of stratification, and every 2 weeks thereafter, seeds are removed from stratification and germinants are removed and transplanted. The remaining seeds are rinsed to remove contaminating microorganisms and returned to stratification.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation occurs in a greenhouse and outdoor nursery (shadehouse) facility. During establishment and initial portion of the active growth period seedlings are kept in the greenhouse. During the later portion of the active growth period through the storage period seedlings are kept in the shadehouse. Seed is sown in early May and seedlings are moved into the shadehouse in late June when seedlings are between 7 and 10 cm tall. Growing media is a 2:1:1 (v:v:v) peat:perlite:vermiculite mixture. Controlled release fertilizer 14-14-14 (N-P-K) 3 -4 month is incorporated into the media at the rate of 4 kg/m3. Greenhouse and shadehouse irrigation is provided via computer controlled irrigation system utilizing RainBird plastic MPR nozzles. Irrigation heads are spaced to provide head to head coverage. Seedlings are fertilized using a fertigation system, which utilizes the irrigation system.
Establishment Phase:	The top of the media is dibbled between 2 and 4 mm and seed is placed in the dibble hole. A 2 to 5 mm layer of medium chicken grit is place of the top of the media/seed to serve as a gravel mulch. The containers are irrigated 4 to 8 times daily to keep the surface of the media moist. Greenhouse night and day temperatures range from 18 to 26 C and no supplemental light is provided. Thinning of germinants to one seedling per cell begins after 14 days. The container system allows for the consolidation of germinants to separate containers, which are removed from daily misting. Consolidation begins after 14 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	28 days
Active Growth Phase:	The first portion (through week 4 to 5) of the active growth phase is performed in the greenhouse. The remaining 8 to 10 weeks is performed in the shade house. Containers are irrigated as needed, which usually involves irrigation once every 4 to 5 days for the first several weeks then one every 2 to 3 days through the remainder of the active growth period. Containers are allowed to dry down to a moderate state between irrigations. This irrigation regime is used to help minimize root disease problems. All irrigations are done early in the morning, which allows foliage to sufficiently dry before nightfall, minimizing foliar disease problems. During the active growth phase, seedlings are fertigated every other irrigation with a liquid based fertilizer (20-10-10; N-P-K) at a rate of 50 ppm N until they attain the target shoot height (15 to 18 cm). During the greenhouse portion of the active growth period greenhouse temperatures during the day are 21 to 26 C and during the night 18 to 22 C. Ambient photoperiod is supplemented with 5 min light interruptions every 2 hours throughout the night from 75 watt incandescent lights suspended 2 meters above greenhouse benches. Once transferred outside, ambient temperature and light regimes are utilized.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	12 to 15 weeks
Hardening Phase:	This phase begins in late summer to early fall as soon as seedlings attain their target shoot height. Containers are leached with a heavy irrigation and a series of incrementally increasing water stresses is applied to restrict any further height growth. In Las Cruces, ambient day temperatures are still quite warm, but the interval between irrigations becomes progressively longer due to seedlings becoming acclimated to water deficits and the gradual cooling associated with the onset of fall. Seedlings are fertilized every third irrigation (fertigated) with a liquid based fertilizer (10-30-20; N-P-K) at a rate of 25 ppm N.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 to 6 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Seedlings are kept in the shadehouse through the winter and are usually shipped in late February to early March. Irrigation intervals are extended during this period and fertilizer is provided every fourth irrigation as described above.
Length of Storage:	5 months
References:	[ITIS] Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2001. (On-line database). http://www.itis.usda.gov. (Accessed 11 November 2002). Thilenius, J.F., Evans, K.E, and E.C. Garrett. 1974. SHEPHERDIA Nutt. Buffaloberry. In: Schopmeyer, C.S., tech. coord. Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 450. Washington DC: USDA Forest Service: pp.771-773. Walkup, C. J. 1991. Shepherdia canadensis. In: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (2002, September). Fire Effects Information System, (Online database). http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ (Accessed 20 November 2002).

Citation:

Rosner, Lee S.; Harrington, John T. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Shepherdia canadensis (L.)Nutt. plants 164 ml conetainer; New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center Mora, New Mexico. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/11/22). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.