Sporobolus Airoides Research Articles

Salt Tolerance of Grasses and Legumes for Roadside Use1

AbstractSalt injury to grasses and legumes in roadside seedings is becoming an increasingly serious problem in areas where deicing salt is used during winter months. This paper reports on results of three greenhouse trials conducted to evaluate salt tolerance among 40 grass and legume species, cultivars, and genotypes. A 2.65 M sodium chloride (NaCl) solution was added weekly for up to 5 weeks to pots of seedling plants in a Derinda silty clay loam (fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalfs). Salt tolerance was measured by comparing dry matter (DM) yields of salt and no‐salt treatments and by visually scoring foliage injury. In the final trial, which involved a rescreening of the most salt tolerant species from all previous trials, 14 of the 15 entries had salt treatment DM yields which were not significantly different from no‐salt treatment yields, and five also had salt treatment foliage injury scores which were not significantly different from those of the no‐salt treatment. These five were: lemmon alkaligrass [Puccinellia lemmoni (Vasey) Scribn.]; alkali sacaton [Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr.]; nuttall alkaligrass [Puccinellia airoides (Nutt.) Wats. and Coult.]; a Puccinellia roadside selection, and weeping alkaligrass [Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl.]. Entries which had no significant DM yield reduction but showed serious foliage injury were: creeping bentgrass [Agrostis stolonifera L., var. palustris (Huds.) Farw.] cv. Seaside; quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.]; tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cv. Alta; perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) common and cv. NK 200, creeping meadow foxtail (Alopecurus arundinaceus Poir.) cv. Garrison; redtop (Agrostis alba L.); creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra) cv. Ruby; and rough stalk bluegrass (Poa trivialis L.). Among legumes tested, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cv. Vernal and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia Scop.) cv. Eski were the most salt tolerant, but both ranked lower than the better grasses. Six Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) cultivars were among those entries which had the greatest dry matter yield reductions and the most severe foliage injury when treated with salt.

Shoot Production and Biomass Transfer of Big Sacaton [Sporobolus wrightii

The annual pattern of above-ground live biomass, recent dead standing biomass, old dead standing biomass, and standing crop of big sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii Monro) grassland community in semiarid Arizona was studied over a 3-year period. Live biomass was produced throughout the year but peak production, over the 3 2 years, was in August. Peak biomass production was 296 g m in 1 wet summer and averaged 133 g mover 2 dry summers. Recent dead standing biomass was greatest in spring and least in summer, over the 3 years. Transfer of recent dead standing biomass to old dead standing biomass was precipitation and temperature dependent. Old dead standing biomass was greatest in summer, least in winter, and was primarily composed of dead seed stalks. Livestock management of big sacaton grasslands should possibly be distinct from adjacent upland areas. Big sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii Monro) is a robust perennial warm-season bunchgrass that begins growth in early spring and usually produces a limited amount of green herbage in winter (Haferkamp 1982). The species grows on low alluvial flats and flood plains (Wooten and Standley 1912). It usually is excluded from alkaline and saline playas and lowlands dominated by alkali sacaton [Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr.]. Big sacaton is distributed from southeastern Arizona to central Texas and Author is range scientist, Arid Land Ecosystems Improvement, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson, Ariz. 85719. Appreciation is extended to R.M. Madrigal and B.B. Buck for field assistance; Drs. H.L. Morton and T.N. Johnsen, Jr., for technical assistance; the Donaldson family at the Empire Range for their cooperation; and ANAMAX Mining Company for permission to use their land. Manuscript received August 17, 1983. south into the northern Mexican Frontier States; however, stand development is greatest in southeastern Arizona (Kearney and Peebles 1960). Dense stands of big sacaton formerly dominated alluvial flats and bottomlands along the Santa Cruz and San Pedro Rivers in Southeastern Arizona and supported more than a million cattle in 1890 (Humphrey 1958). Big sacaton bottoms have been, and continue to be burned and grazed (Bock and Bock 1978), plowed and sown to agricultural crops (Griffiths 1901), channelized to provide irrigation water and drainage (Cooke and Reeves 1976), and covered with houses and asphalt (Renard et al. 1983). Today the species occupies less than 5% of its original area (Humphrey 1960). Big sacaton stands were usually associated with perennial, surface water and new growth was readily consumed by livestock in spring when upland grasses were dormant (Thornber 1910). Dead standing big sacaton biomass is coarse and stands have been burned or mowed in either late fall, winter, or early spring for at least the past 100 years (Thornber 1910, Humphrey 1970). The animal-carrying capacity of semiarid grazing lands is dependent on net primary production and the amount of plant biomass which is available to be converted into animal biomass. Previous investigators have been interested in big sacaton production after natural and man-caused fires (Humphrey 1960, Bock and Bock 1978, Gavin 1982). However, net primary production rates under nonburned conditions have not been measured. The first step in a program to evaluate carrying capacity should be to quantify the annual accumulation and decomposition characteristics of live biomass and standing litter in big sacaton grassland communities. JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT 37(4), July 1984 377 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.223 on Wed, 24 Aug 2016 05:07:16 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms This paper reports on studies in which the above-ground live biomass production, recent dead standing biomass, and old dead standing biomass were examined over 3 years. The relative differences in yield accumulation and decomposition in response to climate were also studied.

Epicuticular waxes of four eragrostoid grasses

The major components of Sporobolus airoides wax were hydrocarbons (37%, C 27–C 33), those of Bouteloua curtipendula and Eragrostis trichoides waxes esters (28% and 31%, respectively) and those of Muhlenbergia wrightii wax free alcohols (57%, almost entirely C 28). Free alcohols formed 22% of the wax from B. curtipendula, 19 % of the wax from E. trichoides and 10% of the wax from S. airoides; the compositions ranged from C 26 to C 32 with C 32 the major component. These alcohol compositions are similar to those found for other species in the subfamily Eragrostoideae. The esters contain 32–46% of acylated triterpenols, principally α- and β-amyrins. Aldehydes were present in all the waxes except for that from S. airoides.

Effect of Sodium and Magnesium Sulfate on Forage Seed Germination

detected. Rate of germination decreased with increasing salt concentration. Reed canarygrass (Phuluris cunuriensis L.) had a significantly slower rate of germination than tall wheatgrass (Agropyron ekmgurum [Host] Beauv.) and tall fescue (Feshrcomrmdinaaea Schreb.). A study period of 12-16 days was used in these 3 recent studies. The incubation time rquired to stabilise the germination percent for each species in the salt solutions varied. Alkali sacaton and switcbgrass germination percent stabilized after 7 days; founving saitbusb, little bluee and green needlegrass, 21 days. The germination percent of Canby bluegrass increased throughout the 2g-day study period. Germination, after the above incubation periods, was enhanced for fourwing saltbush by the NasSO4 and MgSO4 treatments. Germination of green needlegrass and red clover was depressed by aI salt treatments, and alkali sacaitoa, little bluee (2) to document the germination percent of 8 forage species in response to the NasSO4 and MgSO4 solutions after the required incubation period. Material and Methods

Reclamation of Red Mud (Bauxite Residues) Using Alkaline‐Tolerant Grasses with Organic Amendments

AbstractDistichlis spicata var. stricta (desert saltgrass), Sporobolus airoides (alkali sacaton), Agropyron smithii (western wheatgrass), and A. elongatum (tall wheatgrass), alkaline‐tolerant grasses of the western United States, were tested as species to colonize and cover red mud (bauxite residue) with minimum use of soil amendments. A gradient in red mud texture at a residue impoundment (coarse at edge to fine in the center) located in Mobile, Ala., was correlated with soil pH that ranged from 9.15 (coarse) to 11.9 (fine). Saturation‐extract Na concentrations ranged from 394 to 4,990 mg/L and Al concentrations from 4.3 to 1,004 mg/L. Exchangeable Na percentage ranged from 52.6 to 91.1. Without amelioration red mud impoundments lacking subsurface drainage remain unvegetated indefinitely. Sewage sludge additions to red mud (2 cm on surface, or 1:2 by volume) produced significantly greater growth compared with red mud controls with D. spicata var. stricta, A. elongatum, and S. airoides in greenhouse pot experiments. Other organic amendments (wheat straw, paper pulp waste, glucose, and pine needles) and complete nutrient additions failed to produce a consistent response. Sewage sludge caused similar growth increases with D. spicata var. stricta in field experiments on drained red mud lakes. Sewage sludge may increase growth via several mechanisms: (i) lowering red mud pH, (ii) adding macro‐ and micronutrients, (iii) increasing nutrient availability through chelation, and (iv) lowering potential Al toxicity.

Boron tolerance and enhancement of boron toxicity by chloride ions in alkali sacaton during germination of Sporobolus airoides Torr.

Die Boron-Toleranz und ihre Interaktion mit anderen Ionen des Wachstummilieus in Alkali sacaton wurde wahrend der Keimung untersucht. Die Keimung konnte bei einer Boron-Konzentration bis zu 500 ppm nicht beeinflusst werden. Nur Chlorid-Ionen forderten die Toxizitat des Borons.

Establishing Alkali Sacaton on Harsh Sites in the Southwest

Establishing Alkali Sacaton on Harsh Sites in the Southwest

Salt Tolerance and Suitability of Various Grasses for Saline Roadsides

AbstractForage yields of five grass species: Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn., A. smithii Rydb., Lolium perenne L., Poa pratensis L., and Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl., were studied in soil under greenhouse conditions with NaCl additions of 0; 5,000; 10,000; and 20,000 ppm. Forage yield of P. distans was reduced 23% by addition of 20,000 ppm NaCl, compared to a minimum reduction of 40% for the other grass species. Addition of 30,000 ppm NaCl to soil completely inhibited seedling survival of A. cristatum, A. smithii, Elymus triticoides Buckl., P. distans, Puccinellia lemmoni (Vasey) Scribn., and Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr. Puccinellia airoides (Nutt.) Wats. and Coult. and P. distans were unusually toleran to foliar applications of NaCl in the field.Mineral analysis of leaf tissue by emission spectroscopy showed that Na concentrations increased as NaCl addition to the soil increased. However, there was no relationship between salt tolerance of the various grasses and amounts of Na in leaf tissue. Increased NaCl addition to the soil resulted in decreased leaf Ca and Mg, but no relationship existed between leaf K and NaCl addition.P. distans is of value for vegetating saline roadsides.

Salt Tolerance and Cation Interaction in Alkali Sacaton at Germination

Salt tolerance and cation interaction in alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides Torr.) was studied during the germination stage. Germination was inhibited at a concentration of 275 meq/liter of sodium chloride. Mannitol and other salts at iso-osmotic pressure restricted germination in the following decreasing order: MgCl,, KCl, CaCI,, NaCI, and mannitol. Inhibitory effects of mag nesium on germination were partially counteracted by calcium and sodium. Greater recovery in germination was noted by addition of calcium than sodium in seeds previously treated with a high concentration of magnesium chloride. The role of sodium and calcium in counteracting magnesium effects has been discussed. It is also concluded that specific effects of salts are more important than osmotic effects on the seed germination of this species.

Germinable Alkali Sacation Seed Content of Soils in the Rio Puerco Basin, West Central New Mexico

Barren sites are interspersed through native stands of alkali sacaton (Sporbolus airoides Torr.) in west central New Mexico. To determine if these sites remain bare because of lack of viable seeds, soil samples were collected three times each year for three years, and emerging sacaton seedlings were counted. Fewer germinable seeds were found in soil from barren sits than in soil from within stands. Moreover, the number of germinable seeds varied with time of collection. Seed movement from stands to barren sites were determined through collection made weekly during the period of seed dissemination. It was found that a substantial number of alkali sacaton seeds cross the barren sites, mainly through wind action. As many as 40—50 seeds/sq. ft. (400—500 m2) were collected 25 to 50 feet (7.6 to 15.2 m) from established stands. The results suggest most seeds are blown across the barren sites. The few seeds trapped in microsites in the soil soon after dissemination apparently are either removed by wind water animals, or insects, or are killed due to unfavorable moisture—temperature conditions.

Germination and Emergence of selected Forage Species Following Preplanting Seed Treatment1

Germination, seedling emergence, and initial root and shoot elongation were all hastened by preplanting treatments applied to the seeds of seven Agropyrons, Bromus tectorum L., and Elymus junceus Fisch. Preplanting treatments consisted of wetting the seeds at selected temperatures and periods. The best treatment for the Agropyrons and E. junceus was 60 hours at 16 C. The best treatfor B. tectorum was 30 hours at 16 C. Less consistent results were obtained from various preplanting treatments applied to the seeds of four summer growing grasses and one browse species. Five days after planting Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees had 6% emergence from controls and 13 to 31% from pretreated seeds. Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr. emergence from controls was 3% and 35 to 53% from treated seeds. Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. given pretreatment at 28 C for 10 hours had roots averaging 30 mm longer than the control. We obtained no measurable response to preplanting treatments from Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. or B. eriopoda (Torr.) Torr.

Stocking Rangelands on the Rio Puerco in New Mexico

Stocking levels, utilization percentages, and perennial grass forage production were recorded from 1958 through 1969 on the San Luis Experimental Watersheds in the Rio Puerto Basin, 58 miles northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over two-thirds of the 3,900,OOO acres of the Rio Puerto is composed of rangelands similar to those in the experimental watersheds. From 12 years of data on part of the watershed, we have developed tables to use as guidelines for stocking semidesert ranges in central New Mexico, where summer deferment is practiced. These are applicable on semidesert ranges found on most of the Rio Puerto drainage. The portion of the watershed used for this study is a 525-acre experimental range unit, pasture II, in the transition zone between woodland and semidesert grassland (Aldon, 1964). Cattle grazed the area each year from November 1 through April 30. Principal forage species, in descending order of cattle preference (Aldon and Garcia, 1967), are alkali sacaton (Sporobollcs airoides (Torr.) Torr.), galleta (Hilaria jamesii (Torr.) Benth.), and blue grama (Bouteloua graciks (H.B.K.), Lag. ex Steud.).

Light Delays Germination of Alkali Sacaton

Light Delays Germination of Alkali Sacaton

Imbibition by Alkali Sacaton Seeds

Imbibition by Alkali Sacaton Seeds

Effects of High Temperatures on Emergence and Initial Growth of Range Plants1

AbstractThe daily soil temperatures used in this light chamber study were patterned after observations made under field conditions: 18 to 39C where the surface was sparsely shaded by brush, and 18 to 53C where the surface was left bare. The soil moisture was maintained at field capacity. Emergence of sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii Munro), vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum HBK.), bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri Scribn.), and fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.) was adversely affected by the high temperature regime. Survival of all 14 accessions except rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana Kunth), ‘Vaughn’ sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr.), and black grama (B. eriopoda (Torr.) Torr.) was reduced by the high temperature regime.At the close of the 21‐day trial most species had stopped growing or were growing very slowly under the high temperature regime. The shoot weights for the plants growing in the low temperature regime averaged nearly twice as much as those growing in the high temperature regime. There was no significant difference in root weight per seedling between temperature regimes. The root lengths of black grama, ‘Vaughn’ sideoats grama, tobosa (Hilaria mutica (Buckl.) Benth.), lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees), and alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr.) were not reduced significantly by the high temperature regime.The high temperatures were detrimental, in one way or another, to all species even when moisture was adequate but black grama and sideoats grama performed satisfactorily.

Effects of Moisture Stress on Germination of Alkali Sacaton, Galleta, and Blue Grama

Effects of Moisture Stress on Germination of Alkali Sacaton, Galleta, and Blue Grama

Some New and Little-Known Insects of Economic Importance on Range Grasses1

Several insect pests of range grass seed production, not previously reported, are described. About 60 species of grasses were observed. A new genus and species of Chloropidae caused major damage to developing seed of alkali sacaton, Sporobolus airoides Torr., and sand dropseed, S. cryptandrus (Torr.). Two species of Contarinia , one C. wattsi Gagne, which attacks the developing seed of little bluestem, Andropogon scoparius (Michx.), and the other, C. halliicola Gagne, which attacks sand bluestem, A. halli (Hack.), destroyed more than 20% of the seed. Haplotthrips haplophilus Hood damage to alkali sacaton varied greatly from plant to plant; on some plants nearly all seed were destroyed. Anaphothrips zeae Moulton and grass thrips, A. obscurus (Muller), damaged the foliage, but not the seed, of several cool-season grasses, especially Agropyron spp. and Dactylis glomrata (L.). Wheat head armyworm, Faronla diffusa (Walker), was found on many grasses but damaged only sand bluestem appreciably. Wheat curl mite, Aceria tulipae (Keifer), destroyed nearly all the seed of 9 accessions of spike muhly, Muhlenbergia werighti Vasey, but one wns undnmaged and apparently immune. The feeding of this mite so enlarges the palea and the encapsulated, mummified flower parts that the florets resemble a gall. Stem-boring Hymenoptera, principally Eurytomocharis , are common in a limited range of grass species and infest up to 30% of the stems of some. Their influence on seed production has not been established. E. sporoboli Bugbee was predominant in alkali sacaton but was also reared from sand dropseed; blue grama, Bouletoua gracilis (H.B.K.) ; and sideoats grama, B. curtipendula (Michx.). E. erogrostidis Howard was found most frequently in sideoats grama but was reared from spike muhly and galleta, Hilaria jamesi (Torr.). E. planitiae Bugbee was most common in blue grama but was reared from sideoats grama. E. pascorum Bugbee was most often reared from sideoats grama bill it was reared also from blue grama and galleta. Harmotila sp. was reared in small numbers only from spike muhly. Parasitic Hymenoptera reared from grasses infested wild Eurytomocharis and Harmonia are listed.

Alkali Sacaton: Its Merits for Forage and Cover

Alkali Sacaton: Its Merits for Forage and Cover

Effects of Exposures of Seeds to Various Physical Agents. I. Effects of Brief Exposures to Heat and Cold on Germination and Light-Sensitivity

1. The effect on germination of brief conditioning at various temperatures of the grains or seeds of several species of plants was studied, and the effects of such conditioning on light-sensitivity, enzyme activity, and, in two instances, on subsequent growth were observed. Grains of crabgrass and Sporobolus airoides and seeds of flax and radish were conditioned at temperatures ranging from 10⚬ to 65⚬ or 75⚬ C. for 1 hour while possessing various moisture contents from air-dry (9-10%) to fully imbibed (40-44%). Air-dry grains of corn and wheat, seeds of radish and flax, and seeds of other species were conditioned at temperatures of 100⚬ C. for 20, 40, or 60 minutes, or exposed to higher temperatures. 2. Crabgrass and, to a lesser extent, Sporobolus exhibited what is termed a threefold response to light. After conditioning at 10⚬ C., germination percentage was higher in darkness than in light; after conditioning at higher temperatures (50⚬ C. or more), germination became relatively greater in light-in one case, light-obligate. Responses to light varied with differences in water content as well as with temperature of pretreatment. 3. After treatments which resulted in the suppression of germination, the activity of enzymes and the degree of autolysis were diminished. Loss of viability through heat treatments is not in all cases correlated with the loss of oxidase activity. 4. Treatments preventing germination of Sporobolus could be overcome in some proportion of the grains by the addition of glucose, sucrose, or hydroquinone; light, glucose, or light and glucose were similarly effective on crabgrass grains. 5. Grains of Sporobolus conditioned at 60⚬ C. for 1 hour and then planted in soil produced stunted plants; stunting was observed at the third and twelfth weeks after planting. 6. Many instances were observed in which temperature conditioning acting alone or with light promoted more germination than in the control groups. This is discussed in terms of increased chemical activity, the possible effects of light on enzyme activity, and the generally observed stimulatory effect of sudden changes in temperature. The possible relation of the latter point to changes in protoplasmic viscosity is mentioned. 7. In all cases a combination of high water content and high conditioning temperature was deleterious to germination. The upper limit of heat tolerance for seeds of a number of species heated dry is less than 135⚬ C. for 15 minutes. The most resistant species studied were wheat, flax, and radish; of these, wheat is most tolerant to high temperatures and is little affected by as much as 60 minutes' exposure to 100⚬ C. 8. The relative insensitivity of flax and radish seed over a wide range of conditions was found to be of interest. This may be related to the high oil content of these seeds. They are more resistant to treatment at 100⚬ C. than bean and corn, which are both low in oil. The responses of flax and radish to increasing time of exposure to this temperature are similar. Light is clearly inhibitory to these two species after the heat treatment, while it makes little or no difference in the germination of corn and bean. 9. Flax seeds heated 110⚬ C. for 65 minutes exhibit the following characteristics: (a) poor germination in Petri dishes with water, (b) much improved germination in soil or soil extract, (c) improved germination with ascorbic acid, (d) certain abnormalities in the roots of young seedlings, and (e) a stunting of plants grown in soil from seeds so treated. It is suggested that the efficacy of certain agents in overcoming partially the injurious effects of heat is related to their oxidation-reduction activity. 10. The heat resistance of flax and radish is discussed briefly in terms of a protective action of the oils present, possibly an antioxidant function of the unsaturated fatty acids. 11. The data here presented are of limited value in a strictly quantitative sense but demonstrate that brief heat and cold treatments can have numerous effects on the physiological system of the seed. Some of the factors limiting the reproducibility of results are mentioned, and the difficulty of interpretation of the results, owing to the complex and heterogeneous nature of the seed, is pointed out.

Seed Germination in Certain New Mexico Range Grasses

1. The amount of rainfall during the year, especially during the growing season and at the time of harvesting, affects the vitality of the seed. 2. Bouteloua eriopoda and B. gracilis do not seed very often. Most of the florets are sterile, and because of their similarity to the fertile florets, are hard to distinguish from them. 3. Aristida seeds germinate just as well in the light as they do in the dark. 4. The seed coat is important in Sporobolus seeds, as it keeps out water and prevents germination. The seed coat must be punctured by some means before good germination results. Soaking affects the seed coats but little; shaking even for 9 hours in sand has little effect; and scratching or pricking hastens germination greatly. 5. The seeds of Sporobolus airoides do not need pricking to produce good germination results. The seed coat is more permeable to water than are the seed coats of the other species. 6. The Sporobolus seeds from 1925 retained their vitality very well.