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Title: EMERGENCE AND PERSISTENCE OF SEED OF FOUR ANNUAL WEED SPECIES

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

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/9/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Emergence and seed persistence of common waterhemp, giant foxtail, woolly cupgrass, and velvetleaf were studied near Ames, IA for 3 years following burial of seeds in the fall of 1994. In July 1994, 45 by 61 cm wood frames were constructed to contain the seeds. Seeds of the four species were collected from agricultural fields and planted within two weeks of collection. Corn or soybean was planted between the rows of frames for canopy cover and soil was mixed each spring to simulate tillage. Each fall, one quarter of the soil in each frame was excavated and seeds extracted for germinability and viability testing. Woolly cupgrass and velvetleaf were the first species to emerge, while common waterhemp was consistently the latest emerging species. Over the 3 years, emergence accounted for over 50% of the woolly cupgrass seeds, 40% of the giant foxtail seeds, 17% of velvetleaf, and 13% of the common waterhemp. One year after burial, about 7% of the giant foxtail and woolly cupgrass seeds originally buried remained viable. After 2 years, viability declined to less than 1% and after 3 years no viable seeds of giant foxtail or woolly cupgrass were recovered. Over 50% of the common waterhemp seed originally buried remained viable after 1 year, 29% after 2 years, and 4% after 3 years. Of the velvetleaf seed buried, 42% was viable after 1 year, 19% after 2 years, and 12% after 3 years. The rapid decline of the giant foxtail and woolly cupgrass seed pools was somewhat unexpected as was the persistence of common waterhemp.