Seedling emergence of Artemisia frigida in relation to hydration-dehydration cycles and seedbed characteristics

Abstract

Seedlings of Artemisia frigida emerged only when soil moisture was above −1·5 MPa and total emergence increased with the total amount of water supplied. Regardless of the watering regime, A. frigida required a minimum of 8–10 days before emerging at 10°C and approximately 60 mm cumulative moisture to reach stable maximum emergence. When precipitation is low more seedlings will emerge if it is concentrated in a few events, while when precipitation increases, emergence will be greater if the intervals between precipitation events are short. A bare soil surface was the most favored seedbed and Selaginella densa inhibited emergence of A. frigida . However, even though few seedlings emerged from S. densa . this seedbed type is ecologically important because of its large coverage in the field.