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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182880
Title: PERENNIAL GRASS EMERGENCE AND ESTABLISHMENT USING MICRO-NUTRIENT SEED TREATMENT

Author
item Clements, Darin - Charlie
item Young, James

Submitted to: International Rangeland Congress
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2004
Publication Date: 6/28/2005
Citation: Clements, C.D., Young, J.A. 2005. Perennial grass emergence and establishment using micro-nutrient seed treatment [abstract]. Proceedings of the XX International Grassland Congress, Ireland and United Kingdom. 20:409.

Interpretive Summary: Resource managers have become increasingly frustrated with failures in retoration/revegetation efforts. In response to this frustration, some resource managers have attempted to use non-conventional methods such as treating seeds with different chemicals, fertilizers, and secret ingredient products to increase the success of the establishment seed species that they use in restoration/revegetation efforts. We tested one of the more popular propriety products, GERM-N-8®, on 8 native and one introduced perennial grass species and compared emergence and establishment of treated seed to untreated seed at two locations in northwestern Nevada.

Technical Abstract: Resource managers have become increasingly frustrated with restoration seeding failures in arid and semi-arid environments. In response to this frustration, some resource managers have attempted restoration seedings using non-conventional methodologies such as propriety seed treatments. The exact nature of these propriety treatments is often confidential, but they generally consist of either nutrient or micro-nutrient enrichment or inoculation with unspecified micro-nutrients. One of the more popular propriety products used in Nevada is known as GERM-N-8®. This product is a suspension of nutrients (N 2%, P 14%, and K 3%) applied to dry seed. Resource managers often report excellent success using these propriety products, but lack of experimental design make it impossible to assign cause and effect. We tested the treatment of GERM-N-8® on 8 native and 1 introduced perennial grass species on emergence and establishment of these seed species. There was no significant difference in the establishment of these grass species by using GERM-N-8®, in fact Elymus lanceolatus and Agropyron desertorum had significantly better establishment compared to their treated counter parts.