Impacts of bracteole removal and seeding rate on seedling emergence of halophyte shrubs: implications for rangeland rehabilitation in arid environments
Mounir Louhaichi A B H , Sawsan Hassan A , Ali Mekki Missaoui C , Serkan Ates B , Steven L. Petersen D , Abdoul Aziz Niane E , Slim Slim F and Azaiez Ouled Belgacem G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 950764 – Amman, Jordan.
B Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA.
C Centre for Applied Genetic Technologies, University of Georgia, 111 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
D Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.
E International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 114/5055 – Beirut, Lebanon.
F Higher School of Agriculture of Mateur, University of Carthage, Mateur, Tunisia.
G ICARDA, Arabian Peninsula Regional Program, PO Box 13979 – Dubai, UAE.
H Corresponding author. Email: m.louhaichi@cgiar.org
The Rangeland Journal 41(1) 33-41 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ18064
Submitted: 4 December 2017 Accepted: 8 January 2019 Published: 12 February 2019
Journal compilation © Australian Rangeland Society 2019 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Direct seeding techniques often result in unsatisfactory outcomes in rangeland rehabilitation, primarily because of low seedling emergence and poor establishment. Seed processing techniques aimed at improving seedling emergence have gained interest by pasture managers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effects of bracteole removal and seeding rate on seedling emergence in seven halophytic species: Atriplex halimus, A. canescens, A. leucoclada, A. nummularia, A. lentiformis, Salsola vermiculata and Haloxylon aphyllum under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya (Syria). Each of these species was evaluated for seedling emergence under two seed treatments (bracteoles removed and non-removed bracteoles) with three seeding rates (10, 30 and 60 seeds per pot), in a completely randomised block design. The results showed a positive effect of seed treatment on seedling emergence for all studied species. The native A. halimus had the highest emergence percentages whereas the introduced A. mummularia, had the lowest. However, there were no significant effects of seeding rates on seedling emergence. These results showed that bracteole removal could improve germination and seedling emergence, and potentially increase the rate of establishment of the species studied. Therefore, when implementing rangeland rehabilitation projects, bracteole removal needs to be considered. The native S. vermiculata should be recommended for direct seeding in the West Asia and North Africa region given its high seedling emergence, known high palatability, nutritive value, and high auto-regeneration performance.
Additional keywords: arid and semi-arid ecosystems, direct seeding, indigenous plants, rangeland restoration, seed scarification treatments.
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