D3276: Influence of seeding method and time on establishment of native prairie plant communities and associated changes in bee abundance and diversity

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

RB

Ryan Beard

Graduate Researcher
Purdue University
Lafayette, Indiana

Co-Author(s)

DR

Douglas Richmond

Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
AP

Aaron Patton

Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana

There is growing interest amongst golf course superintendents to increase the aesthetic and conservation value of managed areas. The renovation of no-play zones into naturalized areas dominated by native prairie vegetation provides one potential avenue for doing so. The rationale for undertaking these efforts includes a combination of economic, aesthetic, and ecological considerations, but there is presently no road map available to guide superintendents interested in embarking on such a renovation. In order to address this knowledge gap, we’re investigating how seeding method (seed drill vs. broadcast seed) and seeding time (fall vs. spring) influence establishment and diversity of the plant community resulting from the introduction of a prairie seed mixture composed of more than 30 native species. We are also characterizing the abundance and diversity of the bee community associated with these plantings. One year since, neither seeding time, nor seeding method appeared to have a significant influence on establishment of native prairie vegetation. A relatively low number of plant species from the seed mixture was detected during 2023, but those few species comprised between 18 and 29% of the plant community present in renovated plots with Fall drill seeding providing a higher density of flower blooms during the summer. A total of 1,273 pollinator specimens were collected during 2023 with the majority (910) being passively collected in blue vane traps. The impact of renovation on plant and bee communities during the first two years following seeding will be presented.