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A New Method for Estimating Seed Numbers in the Soil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Katherine L. Gross  and
Karen A. Renner
Katherine L. Gross
Affiliation:
Kellogg Biol. Stn., Michigan State Univ., Hickory Corners, MI 49060
Karen A. Renner
Affiliation:
Dep. Crop and Soil Sci., Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI 48824
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Abstract

An elutriation system was developed to estimate weed seed densities in soil. The system provided reliable estimates of seed densities for weed species with a broad range of seed weights (0.06 to 9.80 mg) and had no effect on seed viability of three weed species tested. Elutriation of soil samples (up to 60 g) taken from a cultivated field took approximately 15 min. Separating, classifying, and counting seeds is time consuming (20 to 30 min per sample) but provides an accurate estimate of seed densities for weeds with a diameter of 0.5 mm or more.

Keywords

Weed seed abundancessoil seed bankelutriation
Type
Special Topics
Information
Weed Science , Volume 37 , Issue 6 , November 1989 , pp. 836 - 839
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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