Adapting post‐fire herbaceous seeding for ground cover recovery and soil stabilization: lessons from the largest wildfire in New Mexico, United States

Introduction High‐severity wildfires destroy vegetation cover, inducing soil erosion. Aerial seeding of fast‐growing herbaceous species is common practice for reestablishing ground cover and stabilizing soils. However, few quantitative assessments of seeding treatments' efficacy exist, especially in northern New Mexico. Objective We evaluated the ability of different herbaceous species in ground cover recovery and soil stabilization in high‐severity burn scar in the first 2 years after the 2022 Hermits Peak–Calf Canyon wildfire. Methods We compared the ability of Trifolium fragiferum L., Bouteloua gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths, and Hordeum vulgare L. to restore ground cover and control erosion via monoculture treatments, a mixed polyculture, and unseeded control (i.e. natural recovery). Results In 2023, drought conditions curtailed the germination and growth of sown seeds, while 2024 had above‐normal precipitation, highlighting the variability of the precipitation pattern. Trifolium fragiferum and B. gracilis seeding resulted in higher ground cover than any other treatment in the years 2023 and 2024, respectively. Hordeum vulgare was observed across all treatments, suggesting its ability to proliferate under above‐normal precipitation conditions. Plant community composition was primarily associated with differences in elevation and aspect rather than seeding treatments. Structural equation modeling showed the negative effects of seeding treatments on naturally recovering plant cover and inconclusive effects on soil stabilization. Conclusion Hordeum vulgare outperformed the other species we considered in terms of establishment. However, this did not enhance soil stabilization. Competition with non‐native species and limited precipitation may curtail the benefits of seeding as a post‐fire restoration strategy.