Technical Note: Sprigging Potential in Dryland Restoration, Early Tests From the Northern Great Basin

Despite intensive research, conventional restoration efforts based on seeding often result in failure in drylands. Sprigging, or replanting living grass segments, has been used effectively for years in agricultural grass fields and turf plantings. In a restoration setting, sprigging, or planting vegetative starts in the form of plugs, is often used in wetlands and coastal dunes. Our preliminary work indicates that planting sprigs from nine native species of perennial grass might be a feasible form of restoration. We demonstrate the sprouting potential of perennial grass sprigs in growth chambers, maintenance of viability after storage of sprigs, and a side-by-side comparison of establishment with seeds and sprigs in a field trial. At present, Sandberg’s bluegrass is the most viable candidate species to propagate using sprigs, although five other native perennial grass species also demonstrated sprouting abilities. Furthermore, most species tested can initiate growth even after four months of storage. We hope others will use this paper as a springboard to direct future research into the potential for using sprigging in dryland systems.