SALTGRASS GERMINATION RESPONSES TO SALINITY WITH DIFFERENT SEED TREATMENTS

摘要

potentials as a revegetation species for riparian sites characterized by high salinity.Saltgrass has low germination rates due to seed dormancy issues.It has been shown in growth chamber studies that halophyte seed germination is increased with the use of the germination enhancing chemicals,Proxy (C2H6ClO3P) and thiourea.The objectives of this experiment were: 1) to test germination and establishment of saltgrass under elevated soil salinity levels in field conditions,and 2) to determine the efficacy of treating saltgrass seeds with germination-enhancing chemicals on germination and establishment in field conditions.In Experiment 1,as the average soil EC salinity increased from 3.5 to 7.6 dS m-1,saltgrass seed germination was not affected.In Experiment 2,lower germination and plot coverage were observed in high salinity plots (soil salinity=12.4 dS m-1) than in low salinity plots (soil salinity=4.0 dS m-1).The results indicate that Proxy at 5 mM a.i.enhanced saltgrass seed germination better than the other treatments at all salinity levels.