Elevation and Aspect Effects on Soil Microclimate and the Germination Timing of Fall-Planted Seeds

Hardegree, Stuart P.; Boehm, Alex R.; Glenn, Nancy F.; Sheley, Roger L.; Reeves, Patrick A.; Pastick, Neal J.; Hojatimalekshah, Ahmad; Boyte, Stephen P.; Enterkine, Josh; Moffet, Corey A.; Flerchinger, G. N.

doi:10.1016/j.rama.2022.08.003

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Although the study site received more precipitation in that same period the following year, temperatures were below normal, increasing the likelihood that germinated seedlings froze and died before emergence. Likewise, while our sample size may have been too small to capture the effects of aspect and azimuth on emergence, seedlings on the south side of sagebrush plants may have been even more likely to experience mortality‐inducing winter freezing (Boehm et al 2021; Hardegree et al 2022). Seedling emergence at Saddle Mountain also may be more sensitive to small changes in temperature anomalies because December and January 30‐year normal temperatures are very close to freezing (0.1, −0.1°C), whereas the other sites are characterized by far‐below freezing temperatures (except Grey Butte with average January temperatures of −0.6°C).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Under drought conditions, fungicide seed coating does not increase emergence of two native grass species in sagebrush stands of the Intermountain West, U.S.A.

Koutzoukis

Madsen

Veblen

2023

Restoration Ecology

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Coating seeds with amendments to increase germination, emergence, and establishment is a promising strategy for dryland restoration. Seed coatings containing fungicides offer a potential solution in regions where fungal pathogens cause seed mortality during the winter stratification period between late fall seeding and spring germination. The effectiveness of the fungicide treatment, however, may be dictated by weather and within‐site microenvironment. We tested how fungicide coating influenced seedling emergence of native grasses within sagebrush stands by planting untreated seeds and seeds coated (encrusted) with and without active fungicide ingredients in furrows that extended from the canopy edge of sagebrush plants (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) into the interspace. This was replicated at four sites across the Intermountain West in two successive years. We planted two native grasses, bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata). Emergence was extremely low in both years, with a complete seeding failure (i.e. zero emergence) at two sites in the first year and three sites in the second year. At one site where emergence was sufficient for statistical analysis: (1) the coating on the fungicide and blank treatments inhibited emergence under anomalously dry conditions and (2) across seed treatments, proximity to a sagebrush canopy slightly increased seedling emergence. The variable emergence patterns across sites and years (i.e. the highest emergence was for the site–year combination with the lowest precipitation) highlight the sensitivity of seeding outcomes to, and dependence of fungicide seed coatings on, site conditions, and the necessity of repeating experiments across different weather years.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%