Germination, Emergence, Water Use, and Production of Russianthistle (Salsola kali L.)¹

Abstract

Studies of Russianthistle (Salsola kali L.) have shown that it is a plant well suited to arid and semi‐arid regions. This study was conducted to learn some of the characteristics of the species related to germination and water use that allow it to succeed in these dry areas. Russianthistle seeds were planted in a sandy soil, and various amounts of simulated rainfall were added once. Emergence occurred in 14 hours when as little as 7.6 ml (0.3 inch) was applied. There was no significant difference in numbers of plants emerging and surviving to permanent wilting from 12.7 ml (0.5 inch) to 27.9 ml (1.1 inch) of simulated rainfall. Germination studies showed that Russianthistle seed germinated from 4 to 68 C with optimum germination from 7 to 35 C. Plants were grown for 90 days (to maturity) at four soil moisture levels — field capacity, 0.5, 0.2, and 0.1 available water — to determine water use and production. Shoot production was greatest at field capacity and least when soil was maintained at 0.1 available water. However, efficiency of water use was greatest at 0.1 available water, requiring only 98 g of water per dry‐weight gram of shoot produced. Even under field capacity, Russianthistle used only 181 g of water per dry‐weight gram of shoot and root produced.

Growth, water productivity, and biomass allocation of Great Basin plants as affected by summer watering

“…However, the standing crop of S. tragus was less than 10% underground, whereas J. arcticus had six times more biomass belowground than aboveground. Other researchers have reported low RSR for S. tragus and other annual species (Dwyer and Wolde‐Yohannis, ; Monaco et al ., ). The low underground carbon accretion that is typical of annual species represents a negative implication of annual species invasions to grasslands.…”

Tillage intensity and crop rotation affect weed community dynamics in a winter wheat cropping system

“…Russian thistle germinates well at or near the soil surface (Dwyer and Wolde-Yohannis 1972) and has previously been documented to increase in density in ZT systems (Burnside 1984). Lamb's-quarters and wild buckwheat were associated with both MT and CT. Other species, as indicated by their short vector length, were not associated with any specific tillage system at this sampling date.…”

“…This may be partially due to the warm temperatures and drought conditions experienced in 1988 and to a lesser extent in 1989 (Table 4). Russian thistle and kochia are well adapted to drought conditions and may compete more vigorously with a crop under dry than moist soil conditions (Wiese and Vandiver 1970;Dwyer and Wolde-Yohannis 1972). Flixweed was associated with 1987with , 1988with , and 1990).…”

Demography of Salsola australis populations in the agricultural region of south‐west Australia

“…Seed viability in morphologically similar species, including Salsola kali L., Salsola paulsenii Litv. and Salsola iberica (Sennen and Pau) Botschantzev ex Czerepanov, ranged from 90% to 100% (Dwyer & Wolde‐Yohannis, 1972; Young & Evans, 1979; Fowler et al. , 1988), although viability of Salsola pestifer A. Nels.…”