Effects of Planting Depth and Soil Texture on the Emergence of Four Lovegrasses

Abstract

We studied the emergence of 4 lovegrass accessions planted at 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 cm depths in Pima silty clay loam, Sonoita silty clay loam, and Comoro sandy loam soils in a greenhouse. Catalina boer lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula var. conferta Nees) emergence was superior to A-84 boer lovegrass, A-68 Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees) and Cochise lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees X E. trichophera Coss & Dur.) in all soils and at all depths. Approximately 75% of the radicles of germinating Lehmann and A-84 boer lovegrass seeds failed to penetrate the surface of the 3 soils when surface sown. Lehmann lovegrass seed planted below the surface failed to emerge in the 3 soils.