Developing Native Seed Germplasm

The objective of the four-year study is to collect and develop native plant germplasm possessing the following attributes: drought tolerant, quick-establishing, deep-rooted, and ability to reclaim and control dust-generating soils within the right-of-way, specifically in problem areas in New Mexico. Germplasm is living plant tissue such as a seed, leaf, pollen, cells, etc. that can be collected and used to produce new plants. Researchers will identify plant varieties that exhibit favorable characteristics for soil stabilization and dust mitigation in New Mexico; collect germplasm from native species containing desired characteristics; install one acre test blocks at four unique dust-prone sites on or near NMDOT right-of-way in Luna, Grant, Hidalgo, or Cibola Counties; and create and implement a statistically defensible research design that compares the NMDOT standard seed mix (‘control’ treatment) against local genotypes of the same species composition, and against novel native species with desired attributes. One acre test blocks will contain multiple comparison plots.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $248.822
• Contract Numbers:

  R918031

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  New Mexico Department of Transportation Research Bureau

  7500B Pan American Freeway NE
  Albuquerque, NM  United States  87109
• Managing Organizations:

  New Mexico Department of Transportation Research Bureau

  7500B Pan American Freeway NE
  Albuquerque, NM  United States  87109
• Performing Organizations:

  Institute for Applied Ecology

  563 SW Jefferson Ave.
  Corvallis, Oregon  United States  87333
• Principal Investigators:

  Gisler, Melanie

• Start Date: 20180430
• Expected Completion Date: 20220429
• Actual Completion Date: 20220429
• USDOT Program: Research and Development
• Subprogram: Research

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dust control; Erosion control
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01739684
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: New Mexico Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: R918031
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 21 2020 4:44PM