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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165250
Title: SOIL SEEDBANK COMPOSITION IN SIMPLE AND DIVERSE GRAZED PASTURE MIXES

Author
item Klement, Keith
item Sanderson, Matt
item Goslee, Sarah
item Soder, Kathy
item MULLER, LARRY - PENN STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2004
Publication Date: 6/16/2004
Citation: Klement, K.D., Sanderson, M.A., Goslee, S.C., Soder, K.J., Muller, L. 2004. Soil seedbank composition in simple and diverse grazed pasture mixes. American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings. 13. CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary in not required.

Technical Abstract: Species composition was quantified for soil seedbanks from simple and diverse grazed forage mixtures. Four forage mixtures (2,3,6, and 9-species) were established in replicated 2.2-ac pastures in central Pennsylvania. Soil cores, taken from each of eight paddocks in April 2002, October 2002, April 2003, and October 2003 were germinated in a greenhouse under natural light conditions and controlled temperatures. Pastures in the 2-species mix had the greatest number of germinable seedbank species, while the 9-species mix had the fewest, regardless of sampling period. Annual forb plant type was consistently greater than all other plant types, whereas seeded species contributed little to the soil seed bank. Data from this study indicate that planting a diverse mix of forage species may help reduce the abundance of germinable annual forb seeds in the soil seedbank.