D3069: Evaluating suitable practices for maintaining diverse and abundant wildflower plantings under CP42-Pollinator Habitat (USDA: FSA) requirements in the southeastern USA

CP-42: Pollinator Habitat is a practice available within the Conservation Reserve Program (USDA: FSA) to encourage the establishment of floral and nesting resources for pollinating insects on croplands. However, selection of practices to maintain diverse and abundant forage given CP-42 requirements is unclear, particularly in the southeastern United States. Here, we compared the effects of mowing, light disking, and a mowing + light disking combination treatment against a no-management control on the diversity, density, and composition of wildflower blooms and foraging bees. Three experimental plots were sown with a mix of 20 native wildflower species at the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter, AL in April 2022. Consistent with CP-42 requirements, species were selected to ensure a bloom richness of at least three species per each spring, summer, and fall season. Within each plot, the three treatment groups and control were applied in December 2022 or February 2023 to sixteen 93.6 m² subplots (n = 48) in a balanced randomized blocked design. Blooms were counted repeatedly throughout the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons within ten 1-m² quadrats per subplot. Additionally, foraging bees were netted from each subplot along 10x2 m² belt-transects in 2023. Upon collection of the 2023 data, we will compare the diversity, density, and composition of wildflower blooms and bees between the treatment and control groups. These results will help to establish recommendations on how to best manage CP-42 wildflower plantings to provide forage for pollinators in the southeastern United States.