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Effects of Shade on the Survival of Crested Wheatgrass Seedlings 1
Author(s) -
McGinnies William J.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1966.0011183x000600050028x
Subject(s) - seedling , shading , biology , shade tolerance , dry matter , agropyron , agronomy , etiolation , botany , horticulture , canopy , visual arts , enzyme , art , biochemistry
A 3‐year study at Fort Collins, Colorado, evaluated the effects of several levels of shading on the survival of crested wheatgrass ( Agropyron desertorum (Fish. ex Link) Schult.) seedlings. In general, shade did not increase the number of seedlings surviving. Seedling height was greater under shade, but much of the increase appeared to be etiolation, because dry matter production was not necessarily related to the shade‐induced plant height. The effects of shade on herbage production varied greatly between months within years and also between years. Shade had little effect on air temperatures and minimum soil temperatures, but substantially reduced maximum soil temperatures. Under the conditions of this study, shading provided no significant benefit toward seedling survival. Furthermore, shade was not detrimental to the seedlings.