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Public Information Center     State of Alaska > Natural Resources > A Revegetation Manual For Alaska > Chapter 6
   

Chapter 6:  Choose Species/Cultivars for Revegetation Projects

Instructions for Revegetation Suggestions Charts

  1. Select region of state based on the map below.

    map of alaska

  2. Estimate the soil moisture conditions at the site.
  3. Select the soil type based on standard engineering soil classification (Table 2).
  4. Select an effective seed mix from the three categories (It is always prudent to use more than one selection in a seed mix. Remember, it is called a mix; implying more than one component)

    seed mix

    All entries are listed in order of preference. Listing in order of recommendation gives the designer guidance to prudently select species based on local preference and availability, as well as the secondary consideration of cost.
    • “Category 1” species should account for 80–100% of the seed mix. If the site is approximately uniform with regard to soil conditions, a two- to three-species mix of exclusively category 1 species suffices. Conversely, if soil conditions vary considerably, category 1 species should comprise the lower end of the percent range.
    • “Category 2” species give variety to the mix, allowing the designer to cover a broad range of variable conditions.
    • “Category 3” usually includes species in short supply or of high cost. Category 3 material adds the highest degree of variability to the mix and may also be recommended when special concerns about environmental issues, such as stream crossings, are encountered. Category 3 material should not exceed 5% of the total mix, and its portion should reduce the category 1 percentages, not category 2. An example: For a project in the Southcentral region with average soil moisture and SW soils, ‘Norcoast’ Bering hairgrass can form 60% of the category 1 portion of the mix. Another category 1 species should comprise 20–40% of the mix, depending on variability of soil type. If the second species comprises less than 40% of the mix, category 2 or possibly category 3 species are used to bring the total to 100%. Wainwright Germplasm slender wheatgrass is the highest recommended category 2 species, followed by ‘Boreal’ red fescue in this specific example.
  5. Seeding rates for the entire mix are listed in the column “Seed Rate”. This number is interchangeable for either pounds per acre or kilograms per hectare.
  6. If the site is determined to be an erosion hazard, add no more than 10% annual ryegrass to the previously developed mix. The species, while giving temporary erosion protection, competes for nutrients with the longterm perennial species. Also, annual ryegrass is a highly palatable and attractive forage species that can attract herbivores (i.e. moose and deer).

Determining Regions

If your project lies near regional boundaries and you cannot determine what region’s specifications should be used, follow these guidelines:

Arctic—Interior:
Use Interior

Arctic—Western:
Use Western

Western—Interior:
Use Interior

Western—Southwestern:
Use Western

Western—Southcentral:
Use Southcentral

Southwestern—Southcentral: Use Southcentral

Southcentral—Interior:
Use Interior

Southcentral—Southeast:
Use Southcentral

 

 

 

 
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