Establishment of shrubs and other forage plants on arid and semiarid rangelands and salt-contaminated sites may be enhanced if ecotypes with ability to germinate and establish under moisture stress and high temperatures can be identified. The interactive effects of temperature, osmotic potential, and pH on germination were evaluated with seed from 4 populations of fourwing saltbush [Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.] from western Texas. Predicted optimum temperature (15 to 18 degrees C) from osmotic potential by temperature response surfaces for germination of 3 populations (Valentine, Grandfalls, and San Angelo) were similar to those reported for populations of fourwing saltbush from other western states. Germination of seed collected near Texon, Texas was significantly (P<0.01) affected by media pH range 6 to 9. Seed from the Texon population germinated under lower osmotic potentials compared to the other 3 populations. Total germination of all four populations was enhanced by osmotic potentials lower than 0 MPa. Seed from the Texon population may possess germination characteristics more suitable for arid-land seeding than those from populations near Valentine, Grandfalls, and San Angelo, Texas. 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.