U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory: Mandan, ND
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                                    Software
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Employment
                        Work With Us
                                    ARS Vacancies at USDAJOBS
                    Local News
                        INTEGRATOR
                                    Bottom Line Ag SummitSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area Mandan, North Dakota Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications
- IACUC Executive Minutes

Title:   Author  item
                                            ZILVERBERG, CODY - South Dakota State Universityitem
                                            JOHNSON, W - South Dakota State Universityitem
                                            BOE, ARVID - South Dakota State Universityitem
                                            OWENS, VANCE - South Dakota State Universityitem
                                            Archer, Daviditem
                                            NOVOTNY, CRAIG - Ecosun Prairie Farmsitem
                                            VOLKE, MALIA - South Dakota State Universityitem
                                            WERNER, BRETT - Centre College
  Submitted to: Wetlands
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 5/14/2014
                                    Publication  Date: 6/1/2014
                                    Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/59543Citation: Zilverberg, C.J., Johnson, W.C., Boe, A., Owens, V., Archer, D.W., Novotny, C., Volke, M., Werner, B. 2014. Growing Spartina pectinata in previously farmed prairie wetlands for economic and ecological benefits. Wetlands. DOI: 10.1007/s13157-014-0548-8.Interpretive Summary: While wetlands provide many wildlife and environmental benefits, wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of the U.S. continue to be drained and converted to cropland. Profitable methods for restoring and producing income from wetlands could help recover lost ecosystem services. Prairie cordgrass is a native plant that is often dominant in wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region and has commercial value as seed and hay. An experiment was conducted to compare establishment of two types of prairie cordgrass using different planting methods and at different positions within a wetland landscape in east-central South Dakota. Results showed that transplanting plants worked best in the wetland center, but either transplanting or direct drilling were effective above the wetland center. Results also showed that prairie cordgrass could provide positive net revenue for a farmer. The results of this research are important to farmers and those interested in wetland restoration as it showed methods for successfully restoring wetlands and producing income from the wetlands that were restored.
                                Technical Abstract: Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of the U.S. are threatened by continued drainage and conversion to cropland.  Commercial incentives may increase wetland restoration in lieu of easements.  Therefore, we designed an experiment to compare two populations of Spartina pectinata, compare two planting techniques, and identify the zones of maximum plant vigor and biomass production along a wetland-upland environmental gradient of a restored temporary wetland in east-central South Dakota.  In the wetland center (maximum water depth > 0.4 m) plants were effectively established by transplanting, but not by drilling.  Both techniques were effective above the wetland center.  The zone of maximum vigor varied by year, ranging from the wetland bottom (0.5 m maximum water depth) to 0.25 m above the wetland-upland boundary.  The Prairie Farm population was taller than the Red River population (~1.2 vs. 0.9 m) and height varied little by year.  In contrast, inflorescence density varied greatly by year.  Biomass yield did not differ between populations but was affected by elevation.  Because prairie cordgrass can be established using conventional techniques and provide positive net revenue for a farmer, it should be considered for incorporation into production fields, especially on small farms with numerous shallow wetlands.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov