Wild Oat (Avena fatua) Seed Environment and Germination

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in the field and laboratory from 1978 to 1981 to determine the effect of crop residues, manure, and inorganic nitrogen on wild oat (Avena fatua L. ♯3 AVEFA) seed (seed as used here represents an intact floret) dormancy. Turkey manure usually stimulated wild oat seed germination more than crop residue, cow manure, or inorganic nitrogen. Seed germination of different wild oat accessions varied in response to turkey manure. Germination of dormant seed in water was stimulated after 8 weeks or after overwintering in the presence of turkey manure in the field and after 10 days in the presence of turkey manure in petri dishes in the laboratory. Turkey manure caused growth of wild oat shoots in petri dishes, but usually roots were absent. A nonmicrobial, water-soluble component of turkey manure was responsible for stimulating wild oat seed germination. Turkey manure treatment of dormant wild oat seed increased the percentage of seed that would not germinate in gibberellic acid. Germination of nondormant wild oat seed of Accession 77 was reduced, but Accession 64 was unaffected by turkey manure. Germination of wild oat was low when the seeds overwintered on the soil surface, regardless of seed age or length of overwintering.