Natural Resources Conservation Service

Plant Materials Program

United States Department of Agriculture

Pollinator Week! Creating and Enhancing Habitat for Pollinators

The NRCS Plant Materials Program addresses challenges like pollinator habitat decline with studies, collaborations, and through the release of conservation plants. Check out the amazing pollinator habitat information and resources available to you!

An image of a pollinator field in California containing California poppy and Arroyo lupine wildflowers.

Sweetgrass – a historically important native grass for coastal conservation

Sweetgrass is a clump-forming perennial grass that is native to the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The leaves of this grass are used by the Gullah community, descendants of enslaved Africans in the South Carolina coastal area, as the base material for their coiled basketry.

Timing cover crop termination to meet your residue goals

Durable cover crop residue can be desirable or undesirable depending on the scenario and the specific resource concerns addressed with the cover crop. The carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio of the cover crop determines the durability of the cover crop residue.

Sampling cereal rye for carbon to nitrogen ratio at the Kansas Plant Materials Center

Warm Season Grasses for Conservation Plantings in the West Gulf Coastal Plain

Conservation planting success hinges on best adapted plants. The East Texas Plant Materials Center conducted a 5 year study to evaluate the adaptation of commercially available cultivars and prevarietal germplasms of four native warm season grasses.

Big bluestem varieties in evaluation plots at the East Texas Plant Materials Center.

Plant Materials Program Activities in 2021

Plant Materials Centers publish an annual report to summarize significant Plant Materials related activities within a calendar year. The report provides information on new plant materials developments, studies and the results of activities or studies. Check out your local PMC!