Characterization of seed germination and seedling survival during the initial wet-dry periods following planting

Abstract

Combined greenhouse, laboratory, and field studies were conducted to develop techniques which could be used to characterize seed germination and seedling survival of a plant species when subjected to various wet-dry watering sequences following seeding. A procedure was developed to utilize daily seedling count data to estimate the minimum number of seeds which germinate under specific wet-dry watering sequences. These seed germination percentages are used to adjust laboratory/greenhouse results to more accurately predict field results. Results showed no consistent relationships or patterns between germination percentages derived from filter paper experiments and percentages obtained from the seedling count procedure. The germination percentages, determined from seedling emergence data, were used to normalize seedling survival numbers for 3 wet-dry watering sequences determined in greenhouse experiments. With the adjustment for actual seed germination rates occurring in the greenhouse and field, the number of seedlings surviving the wet-dry watering sequences in the greenhouse could be used to estimate the number of seedling surviving the same watering sequences in the field.