Soil conditions and seeding rates influence outcomes of first‐year wiregrass ( <i>Aristida beyrichiana</i> ) restoration

Abstract The restoration of herbaceous groundcover species is a challenge in old‐growth grasslands and savannas. Many species persist via below‐ground structures and bud banks, and seed production is often variable. In pine savannas of the south‐eastern United States, wiregrass ( Aristida beyrichiana ) is a fire‐promoting species that is targeted for re‐establishing vegetation–fire feedbacks. This species is typically sown from seed in sites from which native vegetation has already been eliminated. Because wiregrass seed production and viability are notably variable, we assumed that high seeding rates might be necessary to achieve a high density of recruiting wiregrass. We examined whether seeding rates and soil types affected the number, growth and survival of new seedlings of wiregrass seeds from wet and dry sites. We initiated a 2.0‐ha field restoration project in north‐central Florida in the spring of 2022. We sowed seeds from wet and dry sites (wet and dry seeds, respectively) at each of three seeding rates (very high, 28.0 kg/ha; high, 16.8 kg/ha; typical, 11.2 kg/ha) in wet soil and dry soil. Data on wiregrass size and survival were collected in the fall of 2022 and 2023. In the first year, the number of seedlings per plot from dry and wet seeds was significantly higher at the highest seeding rate than at the other seeding rates. The numbers of seedlings did not differ significantly by soil type. Neither seed source nor soil type significantly affected wiregrass seedling size in the first year or survival to the second year, but seedlings from both dry and wet seeds had significantly lower growth on wet soils. Practical implication . We conclude that high seeding rates are not necessary within the range of percent filled seed that we observed. Overall, the densities of seedlings we documented (2–8 plants/m 2 ) are within the range of those found in other restoration studies. Additionally, although soil moisture may promote establishment, its influence on subsequent demography may depend on putative ecotypes.