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Influence of Soil Moisture, Temperature, and Compaction on the Germination and Emergence of Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

D. C. Thill ,
R. D. Schirman  and
A. P. Appleby
D. C. Thill
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric., Sci. Ed. Admin., Agric. Res., Dep. Agron. and Soils, Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA 99164
R. D. Schirman
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric., Sci. Ed. Admin., Agric. Res., Dep. Agron. and Soils, Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA 99164
A. P. Appleby
Affiliation:
Crop Sci. Dep., Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, 97331
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Abstract

The influence of soil moisture stress, temperature, and bulk density on the germination and seedling emergence of downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) was investigated in the laboratory. Reductions in soil matric potential from -2 to -16 bars markedly reduced the percentage and rate of emergence. Seedling emergence was better at constant than at alternating temperatures. At high matric potentials, the rate of emergence was accelerated by warmer soil temperature (20 C), while at very low matric potentials, the percentage and rate of seedling emergence were least restricted at cooler temperatures (10 and 15 C). Soil matric potential did not influence the percentage or rate of emergence of seedlings grown from seed lots harvested during climatologically diverse years. Seedling emergence but not germination was inhibited by increased levels of soil compaction. Soil compaction times moisture interaction were not observed, as measured by final seedling emergence.

Keywords

Soil matric potentialsoil bulk densityweed seeds
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 27 , Issue 6 , November 1979 , pp. 625 - 630
Copyright
Copyright © 1979 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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