Effects of Water and Nitrogen Addition on the Seed Yield and Germination Characteristics of the Perennial Grass Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel

Abstract

The reproductive characteristics of plants are likely affected by climate change e.g., changes in precipitation patterns and nitrogen deposition, but few studies have examined the effects of these ecological agents of selection on the seed yield and germination characteristics of perennial grasses. Here, we conducted a multiple-year pot experiment with Leymus chinensis, a common perennial grass in the eastern region of the Eurasian steppe zone, which was grown under three water treatments with and without nitrogen addition. The seed yield of L. chinensis increased with precipitation and was highest (7.0 g/pot) under 747 mm of precipitation with nitrogen addition (10.5 g/m2). Seed yield was positively correlated with heading number, tiller number, and grain number per spike, and the heading number was a critical factor affecting seed yield. Seed germination percentage and the time to obtain 50% germination were affected by environmental cues experienced by the mother plants.

Seed germination demonstrates inter-annual variations in alkaline tolerance: a case study in perennial Leymus chinensis

“…Plastic pots (diameter and height, 30 cm) were filled with 10 kg of sieved soil that had a pH of 7.12, electrical conductivity of 0.73 dS/m, and concentrations of soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus at 2.83%, 1.37 g/kg, and 0.67 g/kg, respectively [ 44 ]. L. chinensis ‘Dongdi 4’ seedlings of uniform size without offspring ramets were excavated to a depth of 15 cm from the same field site (Figure S1 ) and transplanted into the plastic pots on 15 May 2016, 15 May 2017, and 15 May 2018 (Fig.…”

“…All plants were grown in the field beneath a transparent polyvinylchloride roof. Belowground irrigation was applied once every two days at 193 ml·pot − 1 , which was calculated on the basis of 498 mm mean annual precipitation [ 44 ]. Concentrations of N, P, and K in the irrigation water were below the limits of detection.…”

“…Thousand seed weight (TSW) was calculated as the average weight of the ten groups multiplied by 10. The seed setting rate (SSR) was calculated using the equation [ 44 ]:…”

Effect of removal of the upper stem of the ear (topping) and nitrogen application on maize for dual-purpose production of fodder and seed

“…A positive and significant correlation was observed between seed vigor and radicle length and caulicle length, which is because these two traits are part of seed vigor (Table 5). Some previous studies have shown a decrease in seed germination produced by the mother plant under nitrogen application conditions (Zhao et al, 2021), and some other studies have indicated an increase in seed germination produced by the mother plant under nitrogen application conditions (Oskouie, 2012).…”

Fire-Related Cues Significantly Promote Seed Germination of Some Salt-Tolerant Species from Non-Fire-Prone Saline-Alkaline Grasslands in Northeast China

“…For all experiments, 25 seeds were placed in each Petri dish, and each treatment was repeated four times. Petri dishes were kept in an incubator (Harbin, China) at 16/28 • C with a 12/12 h dark/light diurnal cycle [47,53]. Germination was checked once a day, and the experiment was stopped when no germination was observed for three consecutive days.…”