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Seedling Emergence and Survival of Range Grasses in Central Utah 1
Author(s) -
Frischknecht Neil C.
Publication year - 1951
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1951.00021962004300040004x
Subject(s) - seedling , range (aeronautics) , citation , service (business) , forestry , geography , history , library science , horticulture , biology , computer science , engineering , business , aerospace engineering , marketing
THE seedling stage is a critical period in the establishment of perennial grasses during which many plants succumb to the rigors of the environment. Excellent seedling stands are often partially or completely killed by temperature extremes and drought, sometimes necessitating replanting. A more thorough knowledge of seedling emergence and survival characteristics of specific grasses as related to environmental factors will contribute toward more successful plantings. This study was undertaken to learn more fully the environmental effects of frost and summer drought on seedlings of 16 prominent grasses used for seeding in the Intermountain Region. Although the study was conducted in the sagebrush and mountain brush zones of central Utah, the findings will have application, at least in part, to other areas where these grasses are used. Numerous experiments have been conducted on cereal grains with respect to frost and winter hardiness as well as drought resistance, but studies with perennial grass seedlings are more limited. Most such studies with grass seedlings have been under artificial conditions. Rogler (12) found that seedling survival of cool temperature grasses was much higher than that of warm temperature species when artificially frozen at various temperatures. Arakeri and Schmid (2) found that grasses were susceptible to freezing during the early stages of development prior to emerging, but that they again became resistant after emerging and when in the one-leaf stage. Some of the grasses became susceptible to freezing again after they attained the 2to 3-leaf stage. Field studies by Plummer and Fenley (10) in the subalpine zone of central Utah showed that very high seedling mortality resulted from winterkilling. In studying soil drought resistance of grass seedlings, McAlister (7) found that age of seedlings had an important effect upon survival. There were no significant differences in survival between strains of slender wheatgrass and smooth brome when seedlings were 1 month old, but differential survival between strains within either species was observed when seedlings were G weeks to 2 months old at the time drought treatment began. Differences in soil fertility and the hardening treatment prior to drought had no significant effect upon seedling survival. Hummer (9), Bailey (3), and Cook (6) have shown that drought resistance increases with root development in grass seedlings.