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ERDC/CRREL SR-02-2
and is a good cheap choice for broadcasting on snow from helicopters.
Helicopter seeding costs are estimated at /acre.
Summary
Conditions are seldom perfect for seeding.
Work with nature.
Timing is everything.
Accommodate biological systems.
Plan ahead. Preserve the topsoil!
Use common sense and patience.
The most successful seedings are those that are planted just before a rain
event. If that does not happen, the safest thing with native species is to get the
seed into the ground. Once it rains, the plants will grow, even if the rain is three
to four years late. Seed persists well in the soil.
Demonstrating resilient plant species at Fort Carson:
Overview of SERDP Research Program
Antonio J. Palazzo, Research Agronomist, ERDC-CRREL
The new germplasms demonstrated at this workshop were developed under
the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP)
project, CS-1103, "Identify Resilient Plant Characteristics and Develop Wear-
Resistant Plant Cultivars for Use on Military Training Lands."
Mr. Palazzo, at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, is
the lead researcher for the project. Other participants are
U.S. Department of AgricultureAgriculture Research Service: Dr. K.B.
Jensen, Dr. B.L. Waldron, and Dr. S. Larson, plant breeding specialists
Construction Engineering Research Laboratory: Mr. A. Anderson and
Dr. Richard Gebhart, land capability models specialists
Pennsylvania State University: Dr. D. Huff, plant genetics and root
growth specialist
The goal of the project is to increase availability of training lands by
enhancing plant resiliency through improved selective breeding programs to
develop new germplasms. The Army has 11 million acres of training lands under
the Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) program, and the Land Repair
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