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One acre of cropland was converted to prairie in 1991: Two adjoining acres were added in 1994 |
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Prairies will grow well on either level or sloping land. A level site is easier to plant and is less subject to erosion and seed loss. The type of soil and its drainage properties are important factors to consider which plant species will be appropriate. Most of the soil on our campus is considered loamy, consisting of a mixture of clay, soil, and organic matter. This allows us to target a mesic type prairie for the site. After several discussions between SAGE and the UIS administration, we decided to choose a level acre of agricultural field (corn and beans) on campus that would not be disturbed in future years by building projects or other possible disturbances. This plot is located on the south end of the campus just west of the community garden plots.
A restoration can be as small as a prairie planting in a residential yard or as large as a landscape of several thousand acres. If you have a choice in the matter, make your restoration as large as possible, given the available resources. A large site will provide a more diverse environment for many species of animals and insects. Remnant prairies less than an acre can also harbor a substantial diversity of insects including rare species that do not occur in nearby agricultural fields. In 1991, SAGE was given an acre of cropland with the possibility of future expansion. In 1994, the original site was expanded to 3 acres.
The type of vegetation surrounding a potential prairie can affect the quality of the site. Open communities such as old fields, lawns, or pastures are more preferable to wooded communities as close neighbors. Trees and shrubs tend to reduce the sun and wind, two factors important to the prairie. Tall trees can shade the prairie plants enough to eliminate many species dependent on significant sunlight. The UIS prairie site is surrounded by agricultural fields on three sides and turf grass on the fourth side. We considered the importance of these open areas adjacent to the site in order to be able to safely conduct controlled burns. We also were aware of the potential for aggressive weed seed leftover from previous crops. Back
Most prairie plants, especially grasses, require abundant sunlight to thrive. We chose an agricultural field for our site because it is open and exposed to full sun most of the day. Back
Because our site is surrounded by open areas, it is easily seen from nearby roads and is also accessible to the general public for viewing. Back
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