<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Single Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any experience with establishing this buffer?
What types of trees/shrubs were used?
What grasses planted?
Thanks </div></div>
Most RB's are now planted to switchgrass (or a native grass mix) versus trees as they were in the beginning. I haven't signed one in but I know several that did a few years ago.
None planted trees (although I'm sure that is an option)
Your NRCS office can help you decide what they
must have to comply and then you can decide from those possibles what would work best for you.
Here's a couple links on the sbject
RIPARIAN BUFFERS: WHAT ARE THEY and HOW DO THEY WORK?
Riparian buffers
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Riparian buffers are a river's best hedge against erosion and pollution. </div></div>
Prairie grasses actually do a better job of soaking up eccess nitrogen and slowing runoff then trees and shrubs.
Riparian Buffer Systems in Iowa
Forested Riparian Buffers
Riparian Buffers for Agricultural Land
Buffer Strip Designs
IMPROVING SOIL AND WATER QUALITY WITH A MULTI-SPECIES RIPARIAN BUFFER STRIP
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A sixteen-meter-wide multi-species riparian buffer was planted in 1990 consisting of 5 rows of trees adjacent to the stream, 2 rows of shrubs adjacent to the trees and a 7-meter-wide strip of native warm-season grass between the shrubs and cropfield.
Seven years after establishment the buffer removed 95% of the sediment, 94% of total-N, 85% of nitrate nitrogen, 91% of total-P and 80% of phosphate phosphorus from surface runoff. Total soil carbon increases since the buffer establishment were 123% under trees, 85% under switchgrass and 61% under cool-season grasses.
Particulate organic matter showed similar increases. Fine root and microbial biomass were three times higher in buffer soil than in crop soil. As a result, soil respiration rates were twice as high in the buffer soil as in the crop soil. Soil infiltration rates under the buffer were four times as high as in crop soils.
Nitrate in the soil water of the unsaturated zone was reduced by up to 90% as it crossed through the buffer. Four years after establishment, denitrification rates in the soil under trees were significantly higher than in crop soil, but rates under switchgrass were not different from the crop soil. </div></div>
Prairie Buffers
Biomass,carbon and nitrogen dynamics in an Iowa buffer
Iowa Buffer Initiative
Riparian Forest Buffer Design, Establishment, and Maintenance
Each situation might be different so you may even need to have someone from your NRCS office look it over with you. If you already have some trees/brush along the stream or ditch then prairiegrass might be enough.
if not..check out the various planting designs in those links for great ideas to use both tree/shrub plantings along with switchgrass.
You have the chance to create some awesome habitat and get paid for it!! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif