Adventitious root initiation and development of six blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.) accessions were evaluated at seven temperatures in controlled environment conditions. During a 4-day growth performance test, individual growth responses of 21-day-old seedlings exhibited different temperature optima within the 5 to 35 degrees C temperature range. The largest number of adventitious roots, 3.8 per seedling, were initiated at 20 degrees C. Temperatures less than 15 degrees C probably would not be adequate for adventitious root establishment in the field. Precipitation probabilities and rates of adventitious root growth at constant temperatures suggest two possible alternatives for establishment of blue grama in the Central Plains: (1) plant in early May when temperatures for root growth are marginal, but probabilities of 2 or more consecutive wet days are relatively high; and (2) plant in mid-summer when temperatures are favorable for emergence and root growth, but probabilities of 2 or more consecutive wet days are very low. Modification of the micro-environment and development of improved seedlings will be needed before either of these alternatives provides a reliable method for blue grama establishment. 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.