The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the effects of temperature and water stress on germination, and; (2) evaluate effects of seeding date on emergence and survival of green and gray rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pallas) Britt. subsp. graveolens (Nutt.) Piper. and Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pallas) Britt. subsp. nauseosus (Nutt.) Piper.). Seeds of both shrubs were incubated at 10, 20, and 30 degrees C in a gradient of osmotic potentials ranging from 0.0 to -1.5 MPa. Seedings were also made in the field on seeding dates over a period of 3 years. Total germination and germination rate declined as temperatures and osmotic potentials decreased; they were highest for both shrubs at 20 and 30 degrees C and lowest at 10 degrees C. Under field conditions seedling populations were limited by low emergence and survival relative to viable seed planted. Emergence and survival of seedlings were highest in an exceptionally wet year, declining in subsequent years that were drier. Emergence ranged from 0 to 6.9% and 0 to 7.1% and survival of emerged seedlings ranged from 6.6 to 55% and 0 to 60% for green and gray rubber rabbitbrush, respectively. Survival of green rubber rabbitbrush was highest from mid-spring plantings, but no distinctively favorable seeding date was found for gray rubber rabbitbrush. Results suggest that seeds of these shrubs should be planted prior to or during periods when seedbed temperatures are in the 20 to 30 degrees C range and soil moisture is expected near its seasonal high. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.