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Effects of Soil Texture and Seed Placement on Emergence of Four Subshrubs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

H. S. Mayeux Jr.
H. S. Mayeux Jr.*
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric., Agric. Res. Serv., Grassland, Soil and Water Res. Lab., Temple, TX 76503
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Abstract

Seedling emergence of broom snakeweed [Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britt. & Rusby], threadleaf snakeweed [G. microcephala (DC.) Gray], common goldenweed [Isocoma coronopifolia (Gray) Greene], and false broomweed (Ericameria austrotexana M.C. Johnston) was studied in the glasshouse. Germination of these species is known to be light-stimulated. Seed of all four subshrubs germinated readily if placed on the surface or partially pressed into the soil. Emergence was reduced by covering seed with soil to a depth of less than 1 mm. Few seedlings emerged from a depth of 1 cm, and none emerged from a depth of 2 cm. Rate of emergence also decreased with increasing depth of placement. Soil texture had little effect on emergence. Rapid germination on the soil surface is consistent with other aspects of the regenerative strategy of common goldenweed and false broomweed, which do not depend upon a buried seed bank for regeneration. Seed burial probably provides a form of enforced dormancy in the small, long-lived seeds of the two snakeweed species.

Keywords

Isocoma coronopifoliaEricameria austrotexanaGutierrezia sarothraeGutierrezia microcephala
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 31 , Issue 3 , May 1983 , pp. 380 - 384
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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