The species summarized here include agronomic and native species that might be considered for range seeding projects in British Columbia. It is by no means a complete list, particularly if an objective is restoration of a native plant community.
Once the decision to seed is made and species are selected, finding a commercial source for the seed is usually the next step. Depending on the project this can be challenging, particularly if native species are to be used. If seed production is down in any year and inventories are low, the selected species may be unavailable.
This chapter looks at the details of successful seedling and stand establishment. This information is critical for rangeland seeding in British Columbia, where management contexts and site conditions are highly variable. Key factors and the stages of seedling and stand establishment are summarized in Figure 6.1. The interaction between the seed and the soil surface is critically important in the first three stages of this process: (1) seed application; (2) pre-germination, and (3) germination.
British Columbia’s five interior regions are shown in Figure 5.1. The following pages include biogeoclimatic ecological classification (BEC) zone and precipitation maps for each region. The species summary table (Table 5.1, page 112) provides a list of agronomic and native grasses and legumes, and rates their adaptive characteristics for important climate and soil properties.
After the management context is identified and explored, a detailed assessment of site conditions and seeding objectives is required. The purpose of this section is to offer guidance and various tools to assist with this process. Figure 4.1 shows a step-by-step process for carrying out the site and objective analysis.
Each management context presents different circumstances that can impact rangeland seeding decisions. The purpose of this section is to help users identify factors that affect seeding success in each context, and identify situations where seeding may be appropriate.
A situation analysis is meant to identify the overarching institutional, social, economic, and ecological factors that will frame the seeding decision. This process will help determine whether seeding is appropriate, what kind of seeding treatment is applicable, and how success should be evaluated. The main factors to be considered are depicted in the flow chart below.
Seeding of introduced and native plant species is a management practice that is typically applied to increase forage production and revegetate disturbed sites. Increasingly, seeding is being considered within a broader context of social, economic and ecological values (e.g., biodiversity and ecosystem integrity) especially when applied to Crown land.
The Rangeland Seeding Manual for British Columbia is has descriptive summaries for 47 species common to BC, as well as valuable information to inform seeding decisions.
