Emergence of several Triticeae range grasses influenced by depth of seed placement

Abstract

Seed of 8 Triticeae species was planted in petri dishes (depth = 0) and 2, 4, 6, and 8 cm deep in soil in the greenhouse. Total emergence at 6 weeks after planting declined significantly with increased depth and the species by depth interaction was significant (P < 0.001). Dahurian wildrye (Elymus dahuricus Turcz. ex Griseb.) and tetraploid Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea [Fisch.] Nevski) exhibited similar emergence from deep seedlings and were superior to all other species except Altai wild ryegrass (Leymus angustus [Trin.] Pilger). The better emergence of the tetraploid Russian wildrye entry compared to diploid cultivar suggests that the establishment of the tetraploid cultivar will be less affected by poor seed depth control. Newly released cultivars of Dahurian wildrye will be less affected by variable seed depth than several of the species currently recommended for seedling rangelands.