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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Forage and Range Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #234243
Title: Intermountain West Military Training Lands Planting Guide: Selecting Seed Mixtures for Actively Used Military Lands

Author
item PALAZZO, ANTHONY - CRREL
item HARDY, SUSAN - CRREL
item CARY, TIMOTHY - CRREL
item ASAY, KAY - USDA (RETIRED)
item Jensen, Kevin

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/11/2008
Publication Date: 12/20/2008
Citation: Palazzo, A.J., Hardy, S.E., Cary, T.J., Asay, K.H., Jensen, K.B. 2008. Intermountain West Military Training Lands Planting Guide: Selecting Seed Mixtures for Actively Used Military Lands. 43 pp. U.S. Army Research and Engineering Center, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. Hanover, New Hampshire. (Technical Bulletin).

Interpretive Summary: These guidelines were prepared to help military land managers select appropriate seed mixtures for revegetation of various types of actively used lands in the Intermountain West of the United States. Recommending a seed mixture is complicated because of the various ecosystems, land uses, soils, and plant selection goals. We wanted to keep the use of the guidelines as simple as possible but still be able to recommend adaptable seed mixtures. We have broken down the process into four steps that we feel cover the important aspects of selecting the most adaptable seed mixture to meet revegetation goals on actively used lands such as training lands, ranges, airfield, and MOUT sites.

Technical Abstract: This guide provides recommendations on plant materials for Department of Defense (DoD) training land restoration at military facilities in the Intermountain West of the United States. These guidelines fill a gap in knowledge in the science of military land management; there are no other guides for military training land revegetation for land managers who manage these unique pieces of public property. Most other guides for land restoration are for lands with little traffic and are usually related to either grazing or conservation lands; they are based primarily on plant establishment while maximizing yields. On grazing lands, plants are selectively injured by animals; and the goal is to maintain stand persistence and production. On conservation lands, the sites are not disturbed and plants, usually native species, are allowed time to establish. On military lands, the degree and cause of disturbance can vary, but in general, vegetation must establish as quickly as possible, be more resilient to military training activites, and preferably be native. We believe two of the more important characteristics of plants that contribute to resiliency on military lands are rapid establishment and the ability of the plant to spread into damaged areas.