Downy Brome Seed Dormancy

It is especially troublesome in alfalfa winter wheat fallow rotations continuous winter wheat rangeland waste areas roadsides shelterbelts fence rows and railroad rights of way.

Downy brome seed dormancy.

The effect of burning on the downy brome seed bank in a long term experiment has been studied at the columbia basin agricultural research center near pendleton ore. Downy brome bromus tectorum l is found throughout nebraska and is one of the most serious weeds in western nebraska lack of control can be costly to both crop and livestock producers. Seeds are at least conditionally dormant at dispersal in early summer and lose dormancy through dry after ripening. Downy brome usually begins growing in the fall or early spring.

Bromus tectorum has been introduced to southern russia west central asia north america japan south africa australia new zealand iceland and greenland. However seedlings have emerged from a 4 inch depth in western nebraska. Downy brome is known by a variety of names including cheatgrass cheatgrass brome downy bromegrass military. A cquired seed dormancy.

A period of after ripening time reduces primary dormancy by the first fall winter. Grass wild oats downy chess and cheat. Research shows that fall burning after each winter wheat crop in a stubble mulch wheat fallow rotation from 1931 through 1992 resulted in about 75 fewer downy brome seeds in the. Some seeds will remain viable more than two years when placed near the soil surface because of natural dormancy or unfavorable conditions for germination.

In medium textured soils the optimum seed depth for downy brome emergence is less than 1 inch. Contaminated winter wheat seed. Dormancy or unfavorable conditions for germination. It was first found in the united states where it is known as downy brome or cheatgrass in 1861 in new york and pennsylvania and by 1928 b.

In medium textured soils the optimum seed depth for downy brome emergence is less than 1 inch. A downy brome density of 50 plants per. Downy brome seeds that are dispersed in the seedbed in topoedaphic situations that are not favorable for germination may acquire dormancy young et al. Downy brome reproductive phenology is largely determined by the unpredictable annual weather.

Downy brome may. Primary seed dormancy contrary to the belief that primary dormancy is near complete a significant percent of seed is non dormant at seed drop figure 5. However seedlings can emerge from a 4 inch depth. Tectorum had spread to all parts of the united states including hawaii and alaska except for.