EFFECTS OF SAND BURIAL ON SEED-GERMINATION, SEEDLING EMERGENCE, SURVIVAL, AND GROWTH OF AGROPYRON-PSAMMOPHILUM

In the field, seedlings emerged from burial depths ranging from 0-7 cm. Mean depth of seedling emergence was 2.96±1.06 cm, with >80% individuals emerging from 0-4 cm depths of sand burial. In a greenhouse, higher emergence percentages were obtained at 2 and 4 cm burial depths and no seedling emerged from depths >8 cm. Percent germination of buried seeds, percent emergence and emergence rate of seedlings showed negative correlation with burial depth. Burial of young seedlings up to a depth of 6 cm stimulated their growth in height, leaf and tiller production, and overall dry weight. When the burial depth exceeded 6 cm, some seedlings died, and if seedlings were buried to 100% of their height all seedlings died. -from Authors