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❑ Planted Grass Biomass ❑ Gass Seedling Density • Sept -00 sagebnsh seedlhs <br />120 T <br />• <br />100 — <br />�8 <br />°9 '8 <br />VJ V1 80 - <br />E <br />pq � 60- <br />. . <br />A <br />tsk a 40 <br />I <br />20 c <br />e <br />0 <br />bd <br />cd <br />0 2 4 6 8 10 14 <br />Grass Seeding Rate (kg pis ha 1 ) <br />Figure 1. Aboveground planted grass biomass and grass seedling density (columns) with sagebrush density <br />(triangles) across seven grass seeding rates, 2000. Grass seedling density means with the same lowercase letter do <br />not differ (LSD 2.89). Grass biomass means with the same lowercase letter do not differ (LSD 3.07XFortier <br />2000). <br />but did show significant increases for the 2 and 4 kg <br />PLS ha' sagebrush seeding rates. The 2 and 4 kg PLS ha <br />' sagebrush seeding rates may seem high, but Booth et al. <br />(1999) reported that mined lands reclaimed prior to 1985 <br />exhibited shrub densities directly related to seeding rates <br />up to 1000 seeds m' For comparison, a sagebrush <br />seeding rate of 3 kg PLS ha' results in about 1050 seeds <br />n 2 , indicating the 2 and 4 kg PLS ha' sagebrush seeding <br />rates are not excessive. <br />Since recent Wyoming big sagebrush establishment <br />research has shown multi -year viability <br />of the seed under field conditions, Schuman (1999) <br />recommended that higher sagebrush seeding rates be <br />used to ensure that viable seed is available when a more <br />"optimum climatic year" occurs. He further states that <br />this increased seed cost would be much less costly than <br />a a1 <br />42 <br />ab alb <br />a <br />a <br />1 <br />0 <br />_7 <br />—5 <br />- <br />mobilizing a contractor a second time (year) to achieve <br />required shrub establishment. Also, the likelihood of <br />successful sagebrush establishment would be reduced <br />because competition from herbaceous species would <br />likely be greater in the subsequent years. Maier (1999) <br />studied native stands of Wyoming big sagebrush and <br />found stand cohort intervals ranged from 1.88 to 2.71 <br />years. This further supports the theory of enhanced <br />establishment over a period of years from a single <br />seeding if viable seed is available. <br />Other Establishment Considerations <br />Much discussion has occurred over the past 2 -3 <br />decades as to the role and potential of nursery grown <br />shrub seedlings being transplanted on mined lands to <br />meet the shrub density requirements or using transplant <br />