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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #66305
Title: EMERGENCE OF FOUR ANNUAL SPECIES FROM A SYNTHETIC SEEDBANK

Author
item HARTZLER, ROBERT - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Buhler, Douglas - Doug

Submitted to: North Central Weed Science Society US Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/7/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An experiment was initiated to evaluate the fate of newly introduced seeds in the soil seedbank. Two thousand seeds of giant foxtail, woolly cupgrass, velvetleaf and common waterhemp were buried in the upper 5 cm of soil contained in 45 cm by 58 cm wooden frames. The frames were designed to prevent lateral movement of seeds. There were five frames per species. Seeds were buried in the fall of 1994 within eight weeks of harvesting. Prior to the study, the experimental area had been maintained in sod for approximately 20 years. Weed emergence was monitored throughout the 1995 growing season. Date of first emergence for velvetleaf, woolly cupgrass, giant foxtail and waterhemp was April 28, May 2, May 15 and May 22, respectively. Total emergence, as a percentage of seed added to the soil, was 41% for woolly cupgrass, 33% for giant foxtail, 8% for velvetleaf, and 6% for waterhemp. Waterhemp emerged later in the growing season than the other three weed species. By June 19, only 50% of the waterhemp emergence had occurred, compared to over 85% for other species. Further data to be collected includes the number of seeds surviving at the end of the growing season and emergence in future years.