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Enhancing Germination of Dormant Seeds of Downy Brome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Raymond A. Evans  and
James A. Young
Raymond A. Evans
Affiliation:
Range Sci., Agr. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agr., Renewable Resources Center, Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV 89502
James A. Young
Affiliation:
Range Sci., Agr. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agr., Renewable Resources Center, Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV 89502
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Abstract

We investigated germination enhancement of downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) seeds (caryopses) recovered from herbicide fallows in degraded big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) communities. Numbers of germinable downy brome seeds were increased most by adding 0.1 mmole potassium nitrate (KNO3) or combinations of 0.1 mmole KNO3 and 0.14 mmole gibberellic acid (GA3). Germinability was enhanced in the fall and spring but not in midwinter when dormancy was greatest. Improved downy brome control and better establishment of seeded forage species with a fallow technique in sagebrush-dominated communities look promising if these growth regulators can be effectively applied in the field. Without germination enhancement, many germinable seeds of downy brome are present in litter under shrub canopies at the end of the fallow period. With near-optimal microenvironment under shrub canopies for plant growth, severe competition between downy brome and the seeded forage species can result.

Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 23 , Issue 5 , September 1975 , pp. 354 - 357
Copyright
Copyright © 1975 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

Literature Cited

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