Effects of seed mixture composition and cover crop usage on productivity and growth of native prairie forbs and grasses

Few studies have experimentally addressed the aboveground and belowground growth potential of various mixtures of forbs and grasses and the effectiveness of cover crops in the establishment of the target species. Thirty-six plots were seeded with varying native seed mixtures made up of native forbs and grasses. An annual cover crop, Elymus canadensis, was seeded in half of the seed mixture plots.;Overall, there was a significant difference among seed mixture treatments. In general, any seed mixture that contained at least one species of native forb had higher biomass production, with a 75% forb:25% grass mix having the highest aboveground yield. Significant differences were seen in root biomass for the seed mixture and cover crop interaction when seasons were pooled, with those containing both cover crop and some level of forbs having higher root biomass. This suggests forbs are better able to utilize the rooting zones of the dying cover crop over time.