Seed-bank and seedling dynamics in Hyparrhenia hirta are influenced by herbicide application and mowing management

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. K. Chejara ◽  
P. Kristiansen ◽  
B. M. Sindel ◽  
R. D. B. Whalley ◽  
C. Nadolny
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Native Flora ◽  
Seedling Dynamics ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Seedling Emergence And Survival

Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (Coolatai grass) is a summer-active, C4 perennial tussock grass, native to southern Africa and the Mediterranean region, which has invaded areas of native flora in Australia in recent decades. Understanding its seed and seedling dynamics and how various management treatments (e.g. mowing, herbicide and no management) affect these may assist in identifying the conditions and management strategies required to limit its invasion. The population dynamics of H. hirta have not been comprehensively studied previously. A 2-year field experiment (December 2005–December 2007) was conducted to determine the seed-bank size, pattern of seedling emergence and survival of H. hirta seedlings at three sites in northern New South Wales, Australia, under three treatments: unmanaged (control), mowing and herbicide treatments. The density of H. hirta seeds in the soil at each experimental site under different treatments was measured in December 2005 at the start of the experiment, in December 2006 before the application of the second round of treatments and again at the end of the experiment in December 2007. Hyparrhenia hirta seedlings were assessed at monthly intervals in permanent quadrats (0.5 × 0.5 m) to determine seedling emergence and survival. Seedling emergence occurred on many occasions during the 2-year period of the experiment in each treatment and at all sites but the main seedling flushes were observed from mid summer to early autumn. In 2007, at all sites, seedling emergence declined by more than 90% on the mowing and herbicide treatments compared with the control treatment. Seedling survival was greater in the mowing and herbicide treatments than in the control treatment. The seedling cohorts emerging in winter had a lower survival. This study showed that H. hirta infestations have a large viable seed-bank (~3000 m–2), dependent on the level of infestation and climatic conditions, but that the seed-bank declines rapidly when seed addition is prevented. Some form of direct control of established H. hirta plants in combination with providing appropriate grazing management to encourage competition between grasses will assist in the control of H. hirta.

Impact of sowing, canopy cover and litter on seedling dynamics of two Polylepis species at upper tree lines in central Ecuador

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Cierjacks ◽  
Juan Enrique Iglesias ◽  
Karsten Wesche ◽  
Isabell Hensen
Keyword(s):  
Linear Models ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
First Year ◽  
Tree Line ◽  
Seedling Dynamics ◽  
Log Linear

Failure of reproduction is hypothesized as being a main reason for the formation of upper tree lines but there is, as yet, little supportive evidence of such. This study investigates the effects of experimental sowing, canopy cover and litter depth on seedling emergence and survival of Polylepis incana and Polylepis pauta at the upper distribution limit of the species in the Páramo de Papallacta, central Ecuador. We established 18 study plots located in the interior, at the edge and at the exterior of closed forests at the upper tree line and analysed seedling dynamics for 1 y following experimental sowing with four different litter treatments. For both species, seedling numbers were significantly higher in the forest interior than outside, and higher in the treatments with the litter layer removed. In P. pauta, sowing significantly increased seedling number, which was more pronounced within and at the edge of the forest than outside. In contrast, there was no impact of sowing on seedling emergence in P. incana. First-year seedling survival and mean growth rate per month were low in both species. Log-linear models did not reveal significant interactions between survival and canopy cover or litter removal. Our data show that seedling recruitment is limited at the upper tree line – presumably due to extreme climatic conditions – which indicates the importance of constraints in sexual regeneration for tree-line formation in central Ecuador.

Lucerne, phalaris, and wallaby grass in short-term pasture phases in two eastern Australian wheatbelt environments. 2. Effect of perennial density and species on subterranean clover populations and the relative success of 3 clover cultivars of different maturity

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
G. A. Sandral ◽  
J. M. Virgona ◽  
A. D. Swan ◽  
B. A. Orchard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Perennial Species ◽  
Growing Season Length ◽  
Herbage Yield ◽  
Clover Seed

The effect of the density of 3 perennial species, phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia richardsonii Kunth), and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), on seed set, regeneration, and the relative competitiveness of 3 cultivars of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was examined in 2 environments in the south-eastern Australian wheatbelt. Seed yields of subterranean clover were inversely related to perennial density at both sites over the first 2 years, the relationship varying with perennial species. Phalaris depressed the seed yield of clover more than lucerne and wallaby grass in the second and third year at equivalent densities. Clover seed yield was positively related to clover herbage yield in late spring at both sites, and inversely related to perennial herbage yield. Clover seed yield displayed an increasing linear relationship with the proportion of light reaching the clover understorey in spring, which in turn was inversely related to perennial density and perennial herbage yield. Clover seedling regeneration in mixed swards in autumn was positively related to the size of the summer seed bank, but negatively related to perennial density. Clover seedling survival following a premature germination at Kamarah was inversely correlated to the density of phalaris and lucerne in the sward. The relative competitiveness of the 3 subterranean clover cultivars varied between sites, with climatic conditions (rainfall and growing-season length) having a greater effect on the relative cultivar performance than companion perennial species or density. The later maturing subterranean clover cv. Goulburn became the dominant cultivar at the wetter site, constituting 72% of the seed bank, but declined to only 3–8% of the seed bank at the drier site. The proportion of the early flowering cultivar Dalkeith in the seed bank increased over time at the drier site and was highest (53%) in plots with the highest perennial density. We concluded that although perennial pasture species will depress clover seed yield and subsequent regeneration, these effects could be minimised by reducing perennial densities and exploiting variations in competitiveness between perennial species as identified in this study. Sowing earlier maturing subterranean clover cultivars would only be an advantage in increasing clover content in low-rainfall environments. The findings suggest that clover seed reserves and regeneration could also be increased by using grazing management to reduce the level of shading of clover by perennials, a factor associated with reduced clover seed yield.

Seedling emergence and survival of Warea carteri (Brassicaceae), an endangered annual herb of the Florida Scrub

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (7) ◽  
pp. 621-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl W. Weekley ◽  
Eric S. Menges ◽  
Pedro F. Quintana-Ascencio
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Annual Plants ◽  
Seedling Density ◽  
Florida Scrub ◽  
Seedling Emergence And Survival ◽  
History Of ◽  
Annual Herb ◽  
Winter Annual ◽  
Persistent Seed Bank

Seedling emergence and survival to flowering are critical processes in the life history of annual plants. We evaluated the importance of year and habitat on seedling emergence and the effects of year, habitat, timing of seedling emergence, and seedling density on survival of Warea carteri Small, an annual mustard endemic to Florida scrub. We tagged 1329 seedlings in 78 permanent 0.25 m2 quadrats in two habitats (scrub and disturbed) between 1999 and 2002 and followed seedlings monthly. Most (>80%) seedling emergence occurred between September and December. Emergence peaked 2 months earlier and was more variable in disturbed sites than in scrub. Seedling survival among years ranged from 3.5% to 12.0%. Seedling density varied from 1 to 75 per 0.25 m2 quadrat, with an overall median of 6.0. Survival was not density dependent. Median age at flowering ranged from 11.7 to 15.2 months, with late season recruits most likely to survive to flowering. Warea carteri recruits like a winter annual but flowers like a summer annual. Its delayed germination and a 12–15 month life span contribute to population cycling. Complete reproductive failure in unfavorable years, high seed production in favorable years, low rates of seed germination, and a persistent seed bank are consistent with predictions for an annual species in a variable habitat.

scholarly journals Ecological Characteristics of Ventenata dubia in the Intermountain Pacific Northwest

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Wallace ◽  
Pamela L. S. Pavek ◽  
Timothy S. Prather
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Integrated Weed Management ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractVentenata dubia is an exotic winter annual grass that has invaded Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands, improved pastures, intensively managed hay fields, and rangelands within the Intermountain Pacific Northwest (PNW). Currently, producers are attempting to develop V. dubia management strategies with little knowledge of its life history traits. We conducted several studies to characterize V. dubia life history patterns. Preliminary germination trials were completed to describe primary and secondary dormancy characteristics. Field studies were conducted to evaluate (1) seed bank persistence patterns, (2) seedling emergence patterns under V. dubia litter, and (3) seedling emergence and phenological development patterns within timothy hay, CRP, and rangeland habitats. Preliminary germination trials suggest that the after-ripening period required for loss of dormancy does not exceed 30 d and that dormancy breakdown peaks at approximately 90 d, after which germination occurs over a wide range of temperatures (9 to 29 C). A small fraction (< 1%) of the seed bank remained germinable up to 3 yr after burial at 2 cm depth in a grassland habitat. Seedling emergence and survival was significantly greater under high V. dubia litter layers (100% cover) compared with bare surface during the drier study year because of higher soil moisture levels maintained under litter. Across habitat types, mean seedling emergence (50% of total) occurred between 33 and 94 growing degree days (GDD) after soil moisture rose above the permanent wilting point in the fall. Seedling emergence periodicity varied among habitat types in relation to spring seedling emergence, ranging from 0 to 13% of total emergence per year. Phenological development differed across sites and years by up to several hundred GDDs but was closely aligned to Julian days. This collection of studies improves our understanding of V. dubia life history traits and will aid integrated weed management strategies in the Intermountain PNW.

Ecological Studies of the Endangered Rutidosis Leptorrhynchoides .I. Seed Production, Soil Seed Bank Dynamics, Population Density and Their Effects on Recruitment

1995 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Seed Bank Dynamics ◽  
The Impact

The seasonal dynamics of the soil seed bank of Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides F.Muell. were studied by the seedling emergence technique. Seed longevity in soil was quantified in a seed burial and retrieval experiment. The importance of annual seed production to recruitment was also determined over a 2-year-period, as was the impact of conspecific neighbour density on seed production per inflorescence. Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides appears to form a transient seed bank with little capacity to store germinable seeds in the soil from year to year. No seedlings were observed in soil sampled after the autumn germination pulse and no viable seed was present in the soil within 16 weeks of burial. The rate of seed loss was similar when seed was buried under all intact grassland canopy and in 0.25m2 canopy gaps. It appears that most seeds simply rot in moist soil or are predated by soil invertebrates. Seedling recruitment was at least 15 times greater in plots where natural seed input occurred than where it was curtailed. Less than 10% of seed shed resulted in seedling emergence. It is suggested that recruitment in the large populations studied was limited by germination rather than by microsite availability for seedling survival. Population density had an impact on seed production with sparsely distributed individuals producing fewer seeds per inflorescence than plants from denser colonies, although there was much variation. Sparse plants produced significantly fewer seeds per inflorescence than hand crosspollinated heads suggesting reduced pollinator efficacy in these colonies relative to larger colonies where there was no such difference. Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides is dependent on the maintenance of the standing population for recruitment. Any factors that influence flowering and subsequent seed production will limit the ability of the species to regenerate. Over sufficient time, this could lead to the localised extinction of the species and may explain why R. leptorrhynchoides has failed to reappear in remnants where a suitable fire regime has been re-implemented after a period of management unfavourable to the survival, flowering and regeneration of this species.

scholarly journals Giant buttercup (Ranunculus acris L) seedling emergence and survival in Golden Bay dairy pastures

2009 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 222-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.S. Lusk ◽  
S.L. Lamoureaux ◽  
G.W. Bourd?t
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Seedling Emergence And Survival ◽  
Ranunculus Acris ◽  
Milk Solids ◽  
Autumn And Winter

Giant buttercup (Ranunculus acris L) is an unpalatable weed in New Zealand dairy pastures and is estimated to cost the dairy industry over 150 million annually in lost milk solids revenue In this study the survival of giant buttercup seedlings was determined by following their fates in permanent plots on eight randomly selected dairy farms in the Takaka Valley from November 2004 to August 2008 Seedling emergence occurred yearround but tended to be higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn Seedling survival was very low with less than 5 of seedlings surviving beyond 12 months Seedlings that germinated in autumn had significantly higher survival at 6 and 12 months (22 and 12 respectively) than seedlings germinating in spring summer and winter (37 and 23 respectively) Good pasture management that prevents overgrazing and pugging in autumn and winter should reduce the autumn flush of seedlings and minimise their survival

Germination of Piptochaetium Napostaense (Speg.) Hackel and Stipa Tenuis Phil. And Seedling Survival Under Field Conditions.

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Distel ◽  
DV Pelae ◽  
OA Fernandez
Keyword(s):  
High Temperatures ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Plant Canopy ◽  
Seedling Emergence And Survival ◽  
Neighbouring Plant ◽  
High Level

The objectives of this work were to investigate the germination of Piptochaetium napostaense and Stipa tenuis under laboratory conditions and to evaluate the effects of different plant canopy cover on seedling emergence and survival of the two species in the field. Fresh seeds of both species present a high level of dormancy associated with the lemma and palea, preventing seedling emergence immediately after the seeds fall in NovemberPecember. Seventy per cent of the seedlings of both species emerged in autumn. The germination behavior of these grass species may be an ecological adaptation serving to avoid seedling loss through exposure to the high temperatures and drought occurring during summer in the Calden District. Seedling survival was greater in the grazed, low plant canopy cover site, indicating that a certain degree of disturbance to reduce neighbouring plant interference favours seedling establishment in both species.

Effects of overstory tree density, site preparation and ground vegetation on natural Scots pine seedling emergence and survival in northern boreal pine forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Johannes Kyrö ◽  
Ville Hallikainen ◽  
Sauli Valkonen ◽  
Mikko Hyppönen ◽  
Pasi Puttonen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Bottom Part ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Efficient Treatment ◽  
Seedling Emergence And Survival

Natural regeneration is commonly used forest regeneration method in Northern Finland. It is not known however, what would be the optimal overstory density and ground vegetation composition for seedling emergence and survival, and if site preparation is needed to accompany overstory density manipulation. We studied the effects of overstory density (unthinned control and thinning to 50, 150 and 250 trees ha-1) and ground vegetation removal (mechanical site preparation with disc trenching) on the number of naturally germinated pine seedlings and survival of individual seedlings during 8-11 years. Bare mineral soil was a superior seedbed compared to intact vegetation cover, even though also mortality rate was high on mineral soil. Greater cover of lingonberry, crowberry and slash had a negative effect on seedling number. Seedling mortality was initially high (60% died during the first two years) but decreased throughout the first five years. The mineral soil in the elevated part of disc trencher track showed twice the survival rate in the bottom part of the track. High coverage of small haired mosses was associated with poorer seedling survival. An overstory density of 50-150 trees ha-1 with site preparation seems to be an efficient treatment to promote regeneration under these circumstances.

Ecological longevity of Polaskia chende (Cactaceae) seeds in the soil seed bank, seedling emergence and survival

Plant Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 973-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Ordoñez-Salanueva ◽  
A. Orozco-Segovia ◽  
M. Canales-Martínez ◽  
C. E. Seal ◽  
H. W. Pritchard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Seedling Emergence And Survival

scholarly journals Effects of High Soil Surface Temperature on Seedling Survival in Pearl Millet

1993 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Peacock ◽  
P. Soman ◽  
R. Jayachandran ◽  
A. U. Rani ◽  
C. J. Howarth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Soil Moisture Deficit ◽  
High Soil ◽  
Moisture Deficit ◽  
Seedling Emergence And Survival ◽  
Soil Surface Temperature

SummaryA field technique to screen pearl millet genotypes for their emergence and survival at high soil surface temperatures is described. Genetic variation in seedling emergence and survival is shown and it is argued that this variation is largely due to tolerance of high temperatures rather than tolerance of soil moisture deficit, although some interaction occurred. An index for ‘thermotolerance’ is defined and genotypes are ranked accordingly for this trait, which is shown to be highly heritable. The technique is repeatable and allows a large number of genotypes to be screened at the same time.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document