ARS | Publication request: ESTABLISHMENT AND SPREAD OF ANNUAL BROME

Submitted to: Research Update for Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: September 1, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Developing management tactics to best use or control alien annual bromes in the Northern Great Plains requires understanding the mechanisms and processes that allow a brome invasion. We investigated the environmental effects on seed germination and seedling development of annual bromes. Japanese brome seeds germinate over a wide range of temperatures. A percentage of seeds, which did not germinate in fall (before late September) entered a dormant condition. This dormant condition may last through winter, spring, and summer. Japanese brome seed also germinated when harvested green in mid-June. Water stress during germination or seedling emergence may severely reduce Japanese brome seedling density. Japanese brome seed and seedlings germinated and grew better than those of downy brome without water stress. However, downy brome seeds and seedlings germinated and grew better with water stress. These findings explain why invading annual bromes are difficult to control on rangelands.