3. • While you and I might not be thrilled to admit it, the
extinction of the human race would be the very best
possible outcome for the rest of the community of life on
our fragile world.
• And that could happen. But not before we kill off much of
our fellow beings. We don't have to, of course. We still
have time. We can still awaken to our true responsibility
to serve the Earth and not exploit it to death. We are just
an infant species. We are not yet mature but this is our
chance to grow. We could face our predatory truth
together and begin to take great care. We could. It is one
4. • Pollinator attraction
• Wildlife habitat
• Storm water capture
• Enhance genetic
diversity
• Aesthetics
• Decreased fossil fuel
use
• Decreased herbicide
and pesticide use
• Educational
5. • Native habitat + urban areas =
• Trial run of short grass planting
for potential main campus
project
• Collect data on how to best
establish a native planting
• Long term monitoring of relative
success of different native
⇧
21. • Carex and
Coreopsis
preferred the
rototilled soil
(Coreopsis only
90:10)
• Blazing Star and
Little Bluestem
preferred non-
rototilled soil
• Pasture Rose no
preference
23. There was no
correlation between
weed mass and soil
ratio, rototilling, or
the plot’s position in
the prairie planting.
24. • Rototilling is
species dependent
• Sandier is generally
preferred
• Weeds happen
• ~3 years of
maintenance
• More data and
conclusions to
come
Notes de l'éditeur
Increased human development has decreased native landscapes and biodiversity. In urban areas one way to combat this loss is to establish green spaces comprised of native plants and trees, which have many benefits including:
∙ Storm water and erosion control
∙ Pollinator attraction
∙ Wildlife habitat
∙ Trophic support
∙ Genetic diversity enhancer
∙ Aesthetic pleaser
∙ Decreased fossil fuel use
∙ Decreased herbicide and pesticide use
This study’s aim was to determine how to install a prairie in an urban area to produce optimal growth with minimal maintenance and thus optimal benefits.
Our specific research was done on how to restore a short grass prairie. A short grass prairie was established on Calvin's campus north of the Prince Conference Center during the summer of 2013 by researchers
We got these plants from a restoration organization associated with Calvin. They collect seeds locally and propagate plants for restoration projects. The each of the prairie plots were half-meter by half-meter. Every other plot was roto-tilled. The plots were given one of three soil treatments. The soil treatments were ratios of sand to compost.
Each ½ meter plot was planted with plugs (not by seed) of the same five prairie species in the same configuration.
Among the space between the 60 plots we planted many other native prairie plants.
Measurements were taken at the beginning and end of the summer. Because each species has a different growth habit, it became evident that different types of measurements would be required per species.
(Carex brevior) Sedge : height, base area, culm number
Sand Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata): height, base area, bud number
Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina): heights, shoot number, leaf number
Northern Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa): height, leaf number
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium): height, base area
We also took weed mass measurements at the beginning of the summer.
Pulled up weeds in quadrat. Dried them and measured biomass. We also ID the weeds to check for a trend
Formal hypoth. The original researchers thought that a loose tilled soil would allow for quicker, easier root establishment, and that because the plants were grown from native prairie species, they would prefer the sandiest soil ratio since they would have adapted to low nutrient conditions.
Comparison between species of which till yielded the most growth. Since many different measurements were collected for different species, the data were standardized to fit on one graph, so there are no units on the y-axis. Significance is indicated by the p-values above the columns.
Comparison between species of which sand:organic ratio yielded the most growth. Since many different measurements were collected for the species, the data were transformed to fit on one graph, so there are no units on the y-axis. Significance is indicated by the p-values above the columns.
Comparing the mean height change of different species:
from 2013-2014 per soil treatment, we could tell that not all species followed the same growth pattern. For instance, in the 2-way ANOVA tests showed here with 95% confidence (an α=0.05) the Northern blazing star always grew best in the 90/10 sand:organic soil ratio, and for all the soil ratios. optimal growth also occurs when the soil has not been rototilled.
The coreopsis, in the 2-way ANOVA tests has a significant interaction. We couldn’t say that the 90:10 ratio or rototilled plots were always best. Instead, we can see that together the 90:10 ratio and rototilled plots is best for coreopsis. But in 50/50 ratios, they grow best in non-rototilled plots.
For coreopsis, shown here we are 99% confident (an α=0.01) that the interaction between the soil treatments was significant. The 90:10 and 70:30 ratios grew optimally in rototilled soil while the 50:50 ratio yielded more growth in the non-rototilled soil.
After weighing and ID ing the weeds we ran the stats and didn’t find anything significant between soil composition or rototilled vs non rototilled. We thought there might be a correlation on location of the plot and amount of weeds.
Here we can see that there is no significant relationship between weed mass and location near the lawn, middle or path side of the garden.
Growth was species dependent for rototilling. Carex and Sand Coreopsis preferred the loose rototilled plots, while the Blazing Star and Little Bluestem preferred non-rototilled soil (the rose did not have significant results).
Maybe for the first few season of some prarie plants they don’t invest a lot in growth more in gaining bio mass
Just as last year’s researchers predicted, all of the prairie species grew optimally in the sandiest soil ratios, likely since they have evolved to be adapted to drier, nutrient poor prairie landscapes. Specifically the mean growth values of sedge, Coreopsis, and Blazing star were lowest in the least sandiest soil ratio (50:50).
There was no correlation between weed mass and soil ratio, rototilling, or the plot’s position in the prairie (next to the lawn or the path).
Further research could be done considering more factors such as amount of sun or rain fall per plot
Taking these results, future prairie restoration projects can know that while rototilling should be species dependent, all the species we studied yielded optimal growth in the sandiest soil composition ratio of 90:10, sand:organic compost. Even though it is tempting to fertilize and plant in nutrient rich soil, that is not advised for these praire plants.
When it comes to weeds, be ready for them and maintence. If left alone, a newly planted area can become overrun by weeds. About three years of continued maintenance to keep most weeds out. After that, the established native plants should be able to keep out weed invasion.
Side note all These beautiful photos were taken from the prairie.
Outcomes for me:
Learned about natives
Plant ID
Soil types
Restoration techniques
When we plant native gardens wildlife responds. Deer came and ate wild strawberries
Maybe for the first few season of some prarie plants they don’t invest a lot in growth more in gaining bio mass
