Repeated annual seeding and higher seeding rates show potential to improve recruitment outcomes in a post-fire dryland ecosystem
| Authors: | Martin R. Genova, David I. Board, Alexandra K. Urza, Robert K. Shriver, Stephanie Yelenik |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70301 |
| Source: | Society for Ecological Restoration |
Abstract
Drylands experience highly variable and potentially unpredictable interannual climate patterns which can cause post-fire seedings to occur during years with unfavorable climatic conditions. Repeated annual seeding combined with higher seeding rates show promise to improve post-wildfire restoration outcomes in drylands by increasing the likelihood that seeding occurs during a year with favorable weather conditions and overcoming potential establishment barriers from lower seeding rates when weather conditions are favorable. While combining these two techniques is an expensive proposition at large scales, they can be used with other restoration techniques to increase the likelihood of favorable restoration outcomes in targeted restoration projects.