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Herbicide protection seed coating technology for improving restoration success in Great Basin sagebrush plant communities

Published Article

United States

Publication date: September 22, 2025

File format: URL

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This collection of studies evaluates carbon seed coatings designed to protect native perennial seeds from pre-emergent herbicides used to control invasive annual grasses. Laboratory and field trials in sagebrush rangelands found that coating effectiveness depends on seeding methods, with deep furrow planting after herbicide application producing the strongest results.

Subject Tags

  • Invasive Species
  • Habitat restoration

Abstract

Introduction

Invasive annual grasses (IAGs) pose a significant threat to sagebrush rangelands, but restoring native perennial species using seed is challenging because pre-emergent herbicides, used to control IAGs, also harm desired seedlings. This necessitates seeding after herbicide effects diminish.

Objective

This collection of three papers introduces efforts to develop an herbicide protection seed coating that enables simultaneous application of pre-emergent herbicides and seeding of native perennials. The papers evaluate coating efficacy and explore how coating rate and seeding method influence seedling emergence and survival to maturity.

Methods

The studies combined laboratory and field trials to assess the impact of carbon seed coatings, coating amounts, and planting techniques—such as shallow furrows planted before herbicide application versus deep furrows planted after—to determine their effects on seedling emergence and survival of native perennial species.

Results

Findings indicate that carbon-based seed coatings can shield seeds from herbicide effects. Notably, the success of protection varies with seeding technique, with deep furrows planted post-herbicide application showing the highest success rates.

Conclusions

These results suggest that carbon seed coatings hold promise as a tool for restoring sagebrush rangelands affected by IAGs. However, larger-scale trials across diverse environmental conditions are necessary to verify efficacy.

Citation

Boyd, C.S., Baughman, O., Duquette, C., Eshleman, M., Rios, R., Kildisheva, O., Owens, M., Riginos, C. and Schroeder, C. (2026), Herbicide protection seed coating technology for improving restoration success in Great Basin sagebrush plant communities. Restor Ecol, 34: e70195. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70195

TNC Authors

  • Cameron Duquette
    Rangeland Scientist. Oregon
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: cameron.duquette@tnc.org

  • Maggie Eshleman
    WY Restoration Scientist. Wyoming
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: maggie.eshleman@tnc.org

  • Michaela Owens
    WY Native Plant Scientist. Wyoming
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: michaela.owens@tnc.org

  • Corinna Riginos
    Wyoming Science Director. Wyoming
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: corinna.riginos@tnc.org

  • Owen Baughman
    The Nature Conservancy

  • Roxanne Rios
    The Nature Conservancy

  • Olga Kildisheva
    The Nature Conservancy

  • Corinne Schroeder
    The Nature Conservancy