Wyoming big sagebrush: Efforts towards development of target plants for restoration

Abstract

Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis) is a dominant shrub throughout much of the interior western United States. It is a key component of sagebrush steppe ecosystems, which have been degraded due to European settlement, improper land use, and changing fire regimes resulting from the invasion of exotic annual grasses. Re-establishment of this shrub has relied largely on direct seeding, but success has been erratic; outplanting nursery grown seedlings may be a more effective method of establishment. This study was initiated to identify the effect of three container types on Wyoming big sagebrush seedling morphology and physiological status in the nursery, and to link those characteristics to performance following outplanting. A second objective was to determine the influence of field fertilization on outplanted Wyoming big sagebrush seedling growth and survival.

Citation

Herriman, Kayla R. 2009. Wyoming big sagebrush: Efforts towards development of target plants for restoration. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho. 63 p. Thesis.