GERMINATION AND EARLY GROWTH OF GRASSES AT FOUR ROOT-ZONE TEMPERATURES

Abstract

Six native grass species, Bouteloua gracilis, Stipa comata, Koeleria cristata, Festuca scabrella, Andropogon scoparius, and Danthonia parryi, and six introduced grass species, Elymus junceus, Bromus inermis, Agropyron cristatum, Agropyron tricophorum, Festuca rubra, and Dactylis glomerata, were germinated and grown for 90 days at root-zone temperatures of 7, 13, 18, and 27 °C. In general, the introduced species were superior to the native species in percentage germination and speed of germination and germinated, emerged and grew more readily at lower root-zone temperatures. Introduced species produced about 10 times as much weight of leaf and about eight times as much weight of root as did the native species at comparable growth stages. The chances of establishment and successful early growth of seeded stands appeared to be better with introduced grass species than with native grass species.