FLOWER FIELDS AND SOILS: THE IMPACTS OF NATIVE PERENNIAL MONOCULTURE PLOTS ON SOIL HEALTH

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: ACTIVE
• Funding Source: AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1025460
• Grant No.: 2021-67020-34246
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $498,675.00
• Proposal No.: 2020-04317
• Project Start Date: Feb 1, 2021
• Project End Date: Jan 31, 2026
• Grant Year: 2021
• Program Code: [A1401]- Foundational Program: Soil Health

Recipient Organization
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 2275A
BROOKINGS,SD 57007

Performing Department
Natural Resource Management

Non Technical Summary
A brutal paradox is that soil health is the foundation for global food security but is often degraded by the agriculture aiming to provide global food security. Research in the northern Great Plains demonstrates that incorporating small areas of native perennial plants onto farms creates disproportionally large benefits on the landscape. This size-asymmetry indicates that even small plots of natives can have large benefits to soil health. This previous research incorporated mixed-species plantings which provide less harvestable or marketable outputs compared to monoculture plots. Therefore, this research will build on previous research to investigate if smaller plots of monoculture native perennials also similarly benefit on soil healthThe overall goal of this research is to improve the sustainability of agriculture production by increasing knowledge of the effect of perennial native plant monocultures on soil health. Additionally, we will gain understanding of how the impacts of natives on soil health change over time and spread within and outside the plots. With this new knowledge and understanding, we will evaluate a new agriculture practice (including monoculture plots of native perennial plants as part of precision agriculture portfolio) will improve soil health.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

50%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	0110	1070	100%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0110 - Soil;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

native

northern great plains

monoculture

perennial forbs

soil health

Goals / Objectives
Objective 1: Gain an in-depth understanding of intra- and inter-annual changes in soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established.To answer the question of how soil health parameters change after the establishment of native perennial monocultures, we will evaluate soil health parameters before monocultures are planted, monthly during each growing season, and at the end of each growing season. This intense sampling schedule will allow us to evaluate changes in soil health during and among growing seasons.Hypothesis: We expect soil health parameters to change within a growing season and we expect soil health parameters to continually improve over time after native perennial monocultures are established.Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil healthTo answer the question of how far into (or out of) a plot the impact of native perennials on soil health occurs, we will sample soils at the plot edge and at increasing distances within and outside the plot. This sampling scheme will allow us to evaluate the spatial distribution of the impact of perennial plants on soil health.Hypothesis: The effect of perennial plants on soil health will extend beyond the edge of the plots. Or alternatively and less optimistically, edge effects will result in less impact of native perennial plants on soil health at the edge of the plotsObjective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components.The native plants in the project are all very different with diverse phenologies, traits, and they all belong to different plant families. This diversity allows us the opportunity to examine the relationship: 1) among plant traits and changes in soil health, and 2) relationships among our different soil health components.Hypothesis: Plant traits, more than plant species identity, will predict observed changes in soil health parameters. Specifically, we hypothesize that soil health parameters related to carbon cycling will be positively related to tissue C:N and biomass production. We hypothesize that soil health parameters related to soil microbial diversity will be positively related to extended phenology (growth rate in spring and fall). Finally, we hypothesize that soil health parameters related to nitrogen dynamics will be negatively related to tissue C:N and biomass production.

Project Methods
Research design:Research plots will be established at the 'Specialty Crop Research Field' at South Dakota State University. This is a 60 acre area re-dedicated for research on innovative crops and procedures located in Brookings County, South Dakota adjacent to campus. Soils are classified as Barnes clay loam (a clay loam with 0-2% slope). It is well-drained prime farmland with a land capability class of 1 without irrigation.Plant species to be examined are Agastache foeniculum, Erysimum asperum, Geum triflorum, Pulsatilla patens, and Tradescantia occidentalis. Our species were chosen with input from land-managers, personal communication from Xerces Society and The Nature Conservancy, and literature review. Incorporation of A. foeniculum in agricultural landscapes benefits native pollinators and beneficial insects. A. foeniculum has commercial value as wildflower seed, edible flower, honey, and essential oil production. E. asperum benefits native arthropods and is a species that Xerces Society is interested in including in restoration seed mixes. Therefore a locally produced seed source is needed. G. triflorum has been identified by Xerces Society and The Nature Conservancy as belonging to a functional group (the earliest bloomers) that is lacking from much of our landscape. P. patens is the state flower of South Dakota and is one of the earliest bloomers. T. occidentalis is a species that Xerces Society is interested in including in their restoration seed mixes and therefore a local seed source is needed. Seeds will be sourced from local producers and seed collectors when possible and from seed vendors if necessary.Plots will be established using methods that farmers can easily implement to increase the appeal of (or decrease barriers to) implementation. Plots will be 3.05 m (10 ft) wide X 6.1 m long. This plot size was chosen because 10 ft is the width of common direct seeders. Plots will be seeded early in the growing season once conditions are suitable for getting equipment in the field. Seeding rate will depend on the PLS (pure live seed) based on our own tests. Five replicate plots of each species will be seeded in a completely randomized small plot design. An adjacent area still under conventional crop rotation will serve as our control.Objective 1: Gain an in-depth understanding of intra- and inter-annual changes in soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established.In our field plots, soils (0-10 and 10-20 cm depths) will be sampled before plot establishment, monthly during the growing season, and at the end of the growing season. At each sampling time, 5 replicate samples at each depth will be collected from each plot and the control area. Samples will be sent to Dr. Marzano's lab in Ohio for processing.Soil health evaluation methods were chosen that are sensitive to and detect changes due to management over a short term and that are easily interpretable and biologically relevant. Soil health parameters include: soil organic carbon content; soil enzyme activity; readily available C; and available organic N. Additional samples will be stored for soil microbial community diversity analysis in the future. Both investigators have experience with using phospholipid fatty acid analysis to examine soil microbial communities. However, we agree with the NRCS recommendation in that phospholipid fatty acid data are tough to interpret with biological relevance. Therefore, we do not think phospholipid fatty acid analysis for microbial diversity is a good use of our limited budget. Soil samples for microbial diversity will be collected and archived until newer methods are available. Additionally, gravimetric soil water content and soil bulk density will be quantified.Data will be analyzed using repeat measures with soil health parameters as the response variables and plant species identity as the explanatory variables. Our intense sampling scheme will allow the elucidation of how soil health changes within a season, as well as among years, as native perennial plots become established.Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil healthIn our field plots a spatial explicit soil sampling scheme will be used at the end of the second growing season. Soil samples will be collected at the plot edge, 25 cm, 50 cm, 1 m, 1.5 m on each side (inside and outside) of the edge of each plot. The 1.5 m sample inside the plot will be approximately in the center of the plot. Soil samples will be treated and analyzed as described above. Additionally, root biomass will be quantified in each sample (see description for collecting root biomass in objective 3).Multiple statistical tests will be used to examine the effect of native perennials on the spatial distribution of soil health parameters. Standard data analysis will be performed to examine species-specific effects on soil health parameters. Then, to visualize how parameters vary with distance to plot edge, we will use ordinary kriging techniques. Ordinary kriging is a common geostatistical method to estimate variables based on our measured values with associated spatial coordinates. This is an established and proven method to examine the spatial continuity of the measure parameters using linear combinations of known data points. Variograms, models that describe how spatial correlation among data points vary as a function of distance will also be used.Objective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components.In the greenhouse, 20 replicate plants of each species will be individually grown in field soil in 100 L pots (60 cm diameter, 26 cm deep). Greenhouse temperature and light will be set to mimic growing season conditions. Careful and attentive watering will maintain adequate soil moisture. Ten replicates will be harvested and measured after one 6-month growing season. The second 10 replicates will be harvested and measured after an additional growing season.At each harvest time, aboveground biomass will be collected. All biomass will be dried at 100 °C to a constant weight. A small amount of biomass will be ground to a fine powder using a tissue homogenizer and prepared for C:N measurement. We will weigh 4 mg powdered tissue samples into tin capsules. These will be analyzed using an elemental analyzer at SDSU. Ten randomly selected leaves or blades (fresh) will be scanned using a high-resolution scanner and program WinFOLIA to determine specific leaf area.Roots will be harvested by submerging pots in a trough of water and gently rinsing soil from roots. Roots will then be scanned using a high-resolution scanner and program WinRhizo. Root size classes will be assigned in 0.25 mm diameter increments, and total root length in each category will be calculated. After scanning, roots will be dried at 100C to a constant weight. A subsample of roots will be analyzed for C:N using the same methods as for aboveground biomass.The relationship of plant traits to soil health parameters will be evaluated using ANOVA, correlations, and path analysis. Plant traits will be the explanatory variables with soil health parameters as the response variables. Data can also be visualized using a Principal Coordinates Analysis. This will allow us to visualize patterns in soil health resulting from the variation in plant traits. Additionally, we will test the significance of groupings revealed by the PCA using a permutational MANOVA. Permutational MANOVA (also known as non-parametric MANOVA) partitions the sums of squares of the calculated distance matrix based on pre-defined groups, and calculates the significance of the grouping by performing multiple permutations of the data and constructing a pseudo-F distribution. An advantage of permutational MANOVA is that is not subject to the assumptions of a parametric MANOVA (such as data normality, etc.).

Progress 02/01/24 to 01/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this research includes farmers interested in diversifying their portfolio to include native plants; small acreage producers interested in producing native seed; and the scientific community. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?PhD student, Bret Lang, continued his fourth field season in 2024. He took a course in seed ecology. This course was an asset as it gave him the tools to analyze his field data, especially when it came to designing models for statistical analysis. He is also receiving one-on-one mentoring. In October of 2024, he presented his preliminary findings for Objective 1 and 2 at the Society for Ecological Restoration North America Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. In Spring 2024, Bret passed his comprehensive exams and moved to PhD candidate. MS student, Allison Boehm, started a field project in 2024 examining differences in soil health between plants starting from seed and from plugs. She took courses in seed ecology, statistics, and plant ecology. She had training on Seeds of Success protocols. Allison presented at the Society for Ecological Restoration North America Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia Two undergraduate students (Josh Zimmerman, and Madison Mueller) have worked on this project as hourly help. All students received one-on-one mentoring from both PI Perkins and PhD student Bret Lang. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: Gain an in-depth understanding of intra- and inter-annual changes in soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established. We will continue to work on a peer-reviewed research publication in 2025. Results from this project will also be disseminated through a presentation at the National Native Seed Conference in Tucson, Arizona, in February 2025 and a dissertation presentation in 2025. Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil health We will continue to work on a peer-reviewed research publication in 2025. A dissertation presentation including results of this project objective will take place in 2025. Objective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components. We will continue to work on a peer-reviewed research publication in 2025. A dissertation presentation including results of this project objective will take place in 2025.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Gain an in-depth understanding of intra- and inter-annual changes in soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established. (75% accomplished). Data analysis from previous years soil sampling has been completed and has been disseminated though several conference presentations. A research publication is ongoing. To determine the effects of our native plant monocultures on subsequent plant growth, we conducted a phytometer experiment in the spring of 2024. The experimental design consists of 6 replicate blocks. Each block contains one 70 ft long X 10 ft wide strip of 'adjacent crop' that was planted in corn the previous year (2013). Immediately adjacent to the south of the corn block were six 10 ft by 10 ft plots of natives separated by 2 ft buffers. One plot was left unplanted as a control. The remaining 5 plots were planted to one of the following native species: Agastache nepetoides, Dalea candida, Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Liatris ligulistylis, and Tradescantia occidentalis. Native species were randomly assigned to plots in 2021. Native plant and crop plots were tilled to a depth of eight inches on April 23, 2024 and planted in a phytometer crop of radishes on April 24, 2024. Radishes were spaced 4 inches apart in 12-inch rows. Radishes were harvested on June 04, 2024, and measurements were taken (harvest and dry biomass, root diameter and length, and a nutrient panel) and analysis was performed to determine if there were any treatment effects. Subsequent weed growth was also measured on Some key results from this objective showed that, when compared to plots in a corn-soy crop rotation, native plant monocultures of Agastache nepetoides significantly increased soil phosphorus, potassium, and microbial activity. However, this did not translate into better subsequent plant growth. In fact, radish harvested from plots previously planted in Agastache nepetoides had significantly smaller root weights at harvest, compared to all out treatments except for Dalea candida and Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Subsequent broadleaf weed production (biomass) was also significantly lower in plots planted in Agastache nepetoides compared to all other treatments. Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil health (75% accomplished) Data analysis from previous years soil sampling is ongoing, but preliminary results have been disseminated though a conference presentation. A research publication is ongoing. This goal used the same plots as described above. Analysis of soil samples collected in the fall of 2023 was performed in 2024. Our preliminary results indicate that Glycyrrhiza lepidota is the only treatment that displayed significant edge effects. All nine significant soil health indicators were biological (fungal biomass, fungi percentage, fungi:bacteria, saprophyte biomass, saprophyte percentage, gram (-) biomass, gram (+) percentage, gram (-):gram (+), and pre18:fatty acids) and were observed in soil up to half a meter into adjacent crop plots. Objective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components. (50% accomplished) This goal used the same plots as described above. Plant and soil health parameter data are currently being analyzed. Roots that were collected in 2023 were scanned, dried and then weighed. Scanned roots are currently being measured for root length, average diameter, number of tips, and root nodules using ArcGIS (ArcPro) mapping software. Roots were dried in an oven at 60 degrees (Celsius) for three days and weighed after scanning. Plant biomass was collected at the end of the year in each plot. Plant biomass was dried in at over 60 degrees (Celsius) for three days and weighed for analysis. Work on a research publication is ongoing.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J., Perkins, L.B. Intra- and Inter-Annual Changes in Soil Health with Native Plant Monocultures. Society for Ecological Restoration North American Conference 2024, Vancouver, BC. October 30. Oral Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Boehm, A., Perkins, L.B. Mind the Gap: Native Plants in the Northern Great Plains. Society for Ecological Restoration North American Conference 2024, Vancouver, BC. October 30. Poster Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J., Perkins, L.B. Soil in Native Plant Monocultures Affect Soil in Contiguous Crop Plots. Society for Ecological Restoration North American Conference 2024, Vancouver, BC. October 30. Oral Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J., Perkins, L.B. Intra- and Inter-Annual Changes in Soil Health with Native Plant Monocultures. 2024 Natural Areas Conference, Manhattan, KS. October 8. Oral Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J., Perkins, L.B. Intra- and Inter-Annual Changes in Soil Health with Native Plant Monocultures. American Society for Horticultural Science 2024 Annual Conference, Honolulu, HI. September 26. Oral Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J., Cooper, G., Perkins, L.B. Investigating Dormancy and Germination Characteristics to Promote Restoration Success in the Northern Great Plains. American Society for Horticultural Science 2024 Annual Conference, Honolulu, HI. September 24. Oral Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J., Perkins, L.B. Minding the Gap: The State of Native Seed Production in the Northern Great Plains. Oak Lake Field Station Field Day, Astoria, SD. July 15. Oral Presentation
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J. How Native Plants Support Ecosystem Services in Your Garden. East River Nursery Garden Party Seminar, Huron, South Dakota. June 15. Oral Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J. Gardening for Birds. Miller Master Gardeners Spring Fling, St. Lawrence, South Dakota. April 6. Oral Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J. The Native Plant Initiative Research Update. 2024 Black Hills Area Botany & Ecology Workshop. March 1, Rapid City, SD. Oral Presentation
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J., Lang, K.M., Perkin, L.B, Buterbaugh R. E., Plant Look-Alikes: Whats the Difference Between Golden Alexander and Wild Parsnip?
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Ehlert, K., Perkins, L., Villmow, G., Lang, B., Range Roundup: SDSU Native Plant Initiative Strengthens Conservation and Supply of Native Plants
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024 Lang, B.J., Lang, K.M., Perkin, L.B, Buterbaugh R. E., Plant Look-Alikes: Whats the Difference Between Fireweed and Purple Loosestrife?

Progress 02/01/23 to 01/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this research includes farmers interested in diversifying their portfolio to include native plants; small acreage producers interested in producing native seed; and the scientific community. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?PhD student, Bret Lang, continued his third field season in 2023. He increased his proficiency in statistics by taking coursework in non-parametric statistics and took courses in movement ecology and occupancy modeling. These courses will be an asset as they give him the tools to analyze his field data. He is also receiving one-on-one mentoring. In August of 2023, he presented his preliminary findings for Objective 1 at the Ecological Society of America Conference in Portland, Oregon. In Spring 2024, Bret passed his comprehensive exams and moved to PhD candidacy. Three undergraduate students (Brynn Jones, Lily Geffre, Josh Zimmerman, and Madison Mueller) have worked on this project as hourly help. All students received one-on-one mentoring from both PI Perkins and PhD student Bret Lang. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: Gain an in-depth understanding of intra- and inter-annual changes in soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established. All soil and native plant data has been collected and data will be analyzed. In spring 2024, all the native and crop plots will be tilled and planted to a radish (Raphanus sativus) phytometer crop. The phytometer will be planted over the entire to assess how changes to the soil environmental created by natives' impact subsequent crop production. Data collection will be accomplished by harvesting a random sample of the phytometer crop in each treatment and sending it in for nutrient analysis at Ward Laboratory. Since radish root and leaf production is sensitive to different soil characteristics, they will be analyzed separately. Phytometer crop biomass will also be collected, dried, weighed and analyzed for each treatment. Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil health Field data have been received and will be analyzed in 2024. Objective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components. Field data have been collected and will be analyzed in 2024.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Gain an in-depth understanding of intra- and inter-annual changes in soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established. (75% accomplished). The field plots, established in 2021, are located at the Specialty Crop Area (on the SDSU campus). Soils are classified as Barnes clay loam. This is a clay loam with 0-2 % slope, it is well-drained prime farmland, and is assigned a land capability class of 1 without irrigation (Soil Survey Staff, 2020). Elevation is 494 m, mean air temperature is 4-8 C, and mean annual precipitation is 48-74 cm (Soil Survey Staff, 2020). The experimental design consists of 6 replicate blocks. Each block contains one 70 ft long X 10 ft wide strip of 'adjacent crop' (in 2023 this was corn). This encompasses 5 rows of corn, each 30 in apart (0 in, 30 in, 60 in, 90 in, and 120 in). Corn seeds were directed seeded on May 10, 2023. Rows were oriented in an east/west direction. Immediately adjacent to the south of the corn block were six 10 ft by 10 ft plots of natives separated by 2 ft buffers. One plot was left unplanted as a control. The remaining 5 plots were planted to one of the following native species; Agastache nepetoides, Dalea candida, Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Liatris ligulistylis, and Tradescantia occidentalis. Native species were randomly assigned to plots in 2021. Soil sampling occurred before planting and monthly until the end of the growing season (October 2023). Processing of soil samples is ongoing. Samples are being processed at Ward Laboratory for organic matter, KCl extractable nitrogen, P, K, Ca, MG, Na, sulfate, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, and pH. PLFA analysis was also performed to measure soil microbial community attributes. Data analysis is ongoing. Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil health (75% accomplished) This goal used the same plots as described above. Soil sampling occurred at the end of the growing season for our crop (September 29). Soil samples were taken at the center line in each plot between the rows of native plantings and our crop planting. Samples were also taken at increasing distances from the center line into the native plant plots and the crop plots (nine total for each plot at the center line and then at 10 cm, 25 cm, 75 cm, and 1.5 m in both directions). Samples are being processed at Ward Laboratory for organic matter, KCl extractable nitrogen, P, K, Ca, MG, Na, sulfate, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, and pH. PLFA analysis was also performed to measure soil microbial community attributes. Data analysis is ongoing. Objective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components. (50% accomplished) This goal used the same plots as described above. Soil health components were measured from the monthly soil sampling explained in Objective 1. Plant trait data was collected throughout the year. Leaf chlorophyll concentration data was taken monthly in native plant and crop plots using a Minolta 502 Plus SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) chlorophyll meter. To measure root growth, root ingrowth cores were installed in May (three per plot) and collected three times throughout the growing season (June, August, and October). In 2024, roots will be scanned and analyzed for total root length, average diameter, number of tips, and root nodules. Roots will also be dried in an oven at 60 degrees (Celsius) for three days and weighed after scanning. Plant biomass was collected at the end of the year in each plot. Plant biomass was dried in an over at 60 degrees (Celsius) for three days and weighed for analysis.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: 2023. Lang, B.J., Perkins, L.B. Changes in Soil Health within Native Plants Monocultures. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. August 10. Oral Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: 2023. Lang, B.J., How to Plan Your Native Garden. Master Gardener Virtual Lunch & Learn (Online). August 3. Oral Presentation
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: 2023. Lang, B.J., Ahlering, M., Clark, B., Chaves, F., Larson, D., Latvis, M., Perkins, L. B., Minding the Gap: Seed Availability in the Northern Great Plains. The 2023 North America Prairie Conference. June 26. Poster Presentation
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: 2023. Lang, B.J. Creating a Native Plant Initiative for South Dakota. The 2023 North America Prairie Conference
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: 2023. Lang, B.J., Ahlering, M., Clark, B., Chaves, F., Larson, D., Latvis, M., Perkins, L. B., Minding the Gap: Seed Availability in the Northern Great Plains. The 2023 National Native Seed Conference. Poster Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: 2023. Lang, B.J. The Native Plant Initiative Research Update. 2023 Black Hills Area Botany & Ecology Workshop (Online). March 10. Oral Presentation
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: 2023.Lang, B.J. The Important Relationship Between Native Plants and Birds. Brookings County Birding Club March Chapter Meeting, Brookings, South Dakota. March 8. Oral Presentation.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: 2023.Lang, B.J. Intra- and Inter-Annual Changes in Soil Health with Native Plant Monocultures. SDSU Native Plant Initiative Research Update Webinar (Online). February 1. Oral Presentation
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2024. Edwards, L.M., Lang, B.J., Last Spring Frost Dates.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: 2023. Lang, B.J., Lang, K.M., Perkin, L.B. Plant Look-Alikes: Whats the Difference Between Phlox and Dames Rocket?

Progress 02/01/22 to 01/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this research includes: farmers interested in diversifying their portfolio to include native plants; small acreage producers interested in producing native seed; and the scientific community. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?PhD student, Bret Lang, continued his second field season in 2022. He increased his proficiency in statistics by taking coursework in spatial statistics and statistic methods. These courses will be an asset as they give him the tools to analyze his field data. He is also receiving one-on-one mentoring. In October of 2022, he presented his project proposal at the South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management Seminar series Three undergraduate students (Ashlin DeBoer, Kaitlin Schieuer, and Sierra Sattler) have worked on this project as hourly help. Both students received one-on-one mentoring from both PI Perkins and PhD student Bret Lang. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: Gain an in-depth understanding of intra- and inter-annual changes in soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established. Preliminary data analysis of the results of the soil sampling showed that there were some significant increases in essential elements for plant growth between year one and year two. This included an increases in Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) in the A. nepetoides plots, zinc (Zn) in the D. candida plots, and Magnesium (Mg) in the T. occidentalis plots. Field work will continue next summer. The 'adjacent crop' in year three will be corn instead of corn. Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil health Plots will be maintained. Soil sampling for this goal will occur after our third growing season. Objective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components. Work on this goal is scheduled for our third growing season.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Gain an in-depth understanding of intra- and inter-annual changes in soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established. (30% accomplished). Over the past year, we continued with our PhD student and supported three undergraduate students. This year we continued the upkeep of our fields (e.g. weeding, tilling and seeding crop plots) and began collecting monthly soil samples from our research plots. The field plots, established in 2021, are located at the Specialty Crop Area (on the SDSU campus). Soils are classified as Barnes clay loam. This is a clay loam with 0-2 % slope, it is well-drained prime farmland, and is assigned a land capability class of 1 without irrigation (Soil Survey Staff, 2020). Elevation is 494 m, mean air temperature is 4-8 C, and mean annual precipitation is 48-74 cm (Soil Survey Staff, 2020). The experimental design consists of 6 replicate blocks. Each block contains one 70 ft long X 10 ft wide strip of 'adjacent crop' (in 2022 this was soybean). This encompasses 9 rows of soybeans, each 15 in apart (0 in, 15 in, 30 in, 45 in, 60 in, 75 in, 90 in, 105 in, and 120 in). Soy beans were directed seeded on May 28, 2022. Rows were oriented in an east/west direction. Immediately adjacent to the south of the soybean block were six 10 ft by 10 ft plots of natives separated by 2 ft buffers. One plot was left unplanted as a control. The remaining 5 plots were planted to one of the following native species Agastache nepetoides, Dalea candida, Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Liatris ligulistylis, and Tradescantia occidentalis. Native species were randomly assigned to plots in 2021. Any plants that did not survive the winter of 2021/2022 were replaced until we had 100% survival. Plots were kept weed free by weekly monitoring and manual removal. The experiment was irrigated once during an extended drought period using an impact sprinkler. No fertilizer was used. Soil sampling occurred before planting and monthly until the end of the growing season (October 2021). Processing of soil samples is ongoing. Analysis of the following soil health parameters are being quantified: organic matter and C cycling as an indicator of soil organic C content via dry combustion; general microbial activity as an indicator of enzyme activity via B-glucosidase methods; and carbon food source as an indicator of readily available carbon pool via permanganate oxidizable C method. Samples are also being processed at Ward Laboratory for organic matter, KCl extractable nitrogen, P, K, Ca, MG, Na, sulfate, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, and pH. Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil health (20% accomplished) This goal will use the same plots as described above. Sampling will occur after multiple growing seasons. Objective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components. (0% accomplished) Work on this goal has not begun.

Publications

Progress 02/01/21 to 01/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this research includes: farmers interested in diversifying their portfolio to include native plants; small acreage producers interested in producing native seed; and the scientific community. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A PhD student, Bret Lang, began working on this project in April 2021. He is taking classes and receiving one-on-one mentoring. Bret is in the process of developing a dissertation proposal. Two undergraduate students (Blake Pulse and Kaitlin Deneke) have worked on this project as hourly help. Both students received one-on-one mentoring from both PI Perkins and PhD student Bret Lang. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established. Preliminary data analysis of the results of the soil sampling will occur in winter. Field work will continue next summer. The 'adjacent crop' in year 2 will be soybeans instead of corn. Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil health Plots will be maintained. Soil sampling for this goal will occur after our third growing season. Objective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components. Work on this goal is scheduled for Winter 2022-23.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Gain an in-depth understanding of intra- and inter-annual changes in soil health after perennial native plant monocultures are established. (30% accomplished). Over the past year, we hired a PhD student and supported two undergraduate students. This year our field plots were established, and we have begun monitoring soil health. To establish field plots, land at the Specialty Crop Area (on the SDSU campus) was tilled and 9 separate plots were delineated with weed cloth around the edges. Soils are classified as Barnes clay loam. This is a clay loam with 0-2 % slope, it is well-drained prime farmland, and is assigned a land capability class of 1 without irrigation (Soil Survey Staff, 2020). Elevation is 494 m, mean air temperature is 4-8 C, and mean annual precipitation is 48-74 cm (Soil Survey Staff, 2020). The experimental design consists of 6 replicate blocks. Each block contains one 70 ft long X 10 ft wide strip of 'adjacent crop' (in 2021 this was corn). This encompasses 5 rows of corn, each 30 in apart (0 in, 30 in, 60 in, 90 in, 120 in). Corn was directed seed on May 19, 2021. Rows were oriented in an east/west direction. Immediately adjacent (9 in) to the south of the corn block were six 10 ft by 10 ft plots of natives separated by 2 ft buffers. One plot was left unplanted as a control. The remaining 5 plots were planted to one of the following native species Agastache nepetoides, Dalea candida, Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Liatris ligulistylis, and Tradescantia occidentalis. Native species were randomly assigned to plots. Natives were started from seed in the greenhouse in February 2021 and were transplanted into the plots on June 10, 2021. Any plants that did not survive were replaced until we had 100% survival. Natives were planted in a grid with 18 in spacing. Plots were kept weed free by weekly monitoring and manual removal. As this was a droughty year, the experiment was irrigated as needed using an impact sprinkler. No fertilizer was used. Soil sampling occurred before planting and monthly until the end of the growing season (October 2021). Processing of soil samples is ongoing. Analysis of the following soil health parameters are being conducted at USDA-ARS by Dr. Shinyi Marzano: organic matter and C cycling as an indicator of soil organic C content via dry combustion; general microbial activity as an indicator of enzyme activity via B-glucosidase methods; and carbon food source as an indicator of readily available carbon pool via permanganate oxidizable C method. Samples are also being processed at Ward Laboratory for organic matter, KCl extractable nitrogen, P, K, Ca, MG, Na, sulfate, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, and pH. Objective 2: Quantify the edge effects on the impact of native perennials on soil health (20% accomplished) This goal will use the same plots as described above. Sampling will occur after multiple growing seasons. Objective 3: Elucidate the relative importance of native plant traits on changes to soil health and the interrelationship of soil health components. (0% accomplished) Work on this goal has not begun.

Publications