Soil mulches and sprayed coatings and seed washing to aid Chenopod establishment on saline soil.

Abstract

Three field experiments were conducted on saline sites to compare vermiculite and 'Compeat' mulches and sprayed latex or bituminous coatings as coverings for seed placed on soil in a 'V' shaped niche. Chenopod fruits were washed in water to remove germination inhibitors before planting. The effectiveness of the treatments were assessed by counting seedling emergence and survival. Black pigmented latex and bituminous emulsion coatings gave significant improvements in emergence and survival on Atriplex spp. and Maireana brevifolia seedlings over 10 months. Bituminous emulsion stabilized the soil in the niche better than lattices, especially at high dilutions. Seed washing doubled emergence of Atriplex amnicola (river saltbush) if used in combination with a mulch. Vermiculite gave a marked increase in emergence and survival of seedlings of river saltbush and was significantly better than 'Compeat'. Low temperatures and high soil salinities were postulated as possible causes of reduced emergence on saline sites.