Emergence of Honey Mesquite Seedlings Relative to Planting Depth and Soil Temperature

Abstract

Maximum emergence occurred when honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr, var. glandulosa) seeds were planted 0.5 cm deep at a soil temperature of 27 C. Percent emergence was severely reduced at a soil temperature of 18 C, regardless of planting depth. Seeds placed on the soil surface germinated, but seedlings did not survive. Seeds planted 5 to 6 cm deep germinated, but no seedlings emerged. Rate and extent of emergence in a nursery were evidently dependent on the temperature reaching 24 C in the surface 2.5 cm of soil.