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Hitchhiker planting: evaluation of mixed-species container stock in field conditions The current reclamation guidelines in Alberta requires sites to meet requirements for woody and native herbaceous species cover. While tree planting is a proven option, seeding herbaceous species in the field is difficult. As a cost-saving alternative we proposed sowing the forb seed into the woody species plug in the greenhouse to aid in its establishment. We created seventeen stocktypes that varied in forb species, plug size, and weeks between sowing the spruce seed and the forb seed. These plants were grown in the greenhouse for one year, and then outplanted across five sites, in a series of seven lines per site, with each line containing a randomized order of the seventeen stocktypes, and each stocktype having three replicates. After two field growing seasons we measured numerous vegetation parameters on every replicate. We found that by planting the hitchhiker combination in a 615A plug, with the forb (fireweed or aster) being sowed in ten to twelve weeks after the spruce, we can obtain a spruce with height, leader growth and root collar diameter measurements comparable to the control spruce, without drastically compromising the health of the forb. It is currently not clear if the presence of the forb has any effect on non-native herbaceous species cover, but initial results are promising. Overall hitchhiker planting is a viable and cost-saving option to readily achieve native herbaceous species cover on a reclamation site. |