Biological soil crusts inhibit seed germination in a temperate pine barren ecosystem

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are known to affect plants’ germination and seedling establishment in arid ecosystems, but their ecological role in more mesic climates is not so well-known. We tested the effects of moss-crusted versus uncrusted soils on seed germination dynamics in a temperate pine barren ecosystem. We conducted a 35-day laboratory assay of seed germination on moss-crusted soils versus uncrusted soils from the Albany (NY) Pine Bush Preserve. We tested total seed germination and the number of days to 50% of total germination (T50) of two herbaceous perennial forb species in each soil type. Three and five times more seeds germinated on uncrusted soil than on crusted soil for bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), respectively. Seeds of both species also germinated approximately 10 days earlier on uncrusted soil than on crusted soil. This study, and others in similar habitats, show that BSCs in mesic climates can influence germination and other early life-history stages of plants. We hope that further study of the interactions between BSCs and vascular plants in mesic climates will contribute to our understanding of the ecology of BSCs outside the arid and semiarid climates where they are more extensively studied.

Biological soil crusts inhibit seed germination in a temperate pine barren ecosystem

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are known to affect plants’ germination and seedling establishment in arid ecosystems, but their ecological role in more mesic climates is not so well-known. We tested the effects of moss-crusted versus uncrusted soils on seed germination dynamics in a temperate pine barren ecosystem. We conducted a 35-day laboratory assay of seed germination on moss-crusted soils versus uncrusted soils from the Albany (NY) Pine Bush Preserve. We tested total seed germination and the number of days to 50% of total germination (T50) of two herbaceous perennial forb species in each soil type. Three and five times more seeds germinated on uncrusted soil than on crusted soil for bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), respectively. Seeds of both species also germinated approximately 10 days earlier on uncrusted soil than on crusted soil. This study, and others in similar habitats, show that BSCs in mesic climates can influence germination and other early life-history stages of plants. We hope that further study of the interactions between BSCs and vascular plants in mesic climates will contribute to our understanding of the ecology of BSCs outside the arid and semiarid climates where they are more extensively studied.

Biological soil crusts inhibit seed germination in a temperate pine barren ecosystem

Aims: Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are known to affect plants’ germination and seedling establishment in arid ecosystems, but their ecological role in more mesic climates is not so well-known. We tested the effects of moss-crusted versus uncrusted soils on seed germination dynamics in a temperate pine barren ecosystem. Methods: We conducted a 35-day laboratory assay of seed germination on moss-crusted soils versus uncrusted soils from the Albany (NY) Pine Bush Preserve. We tested total seed germination and the number of days to 50% of total germination (T50) of two herbaceous perennial forb species in each soil type. Results: Three and five times more seeds germinated on uncrusted soil than on crusted soil for bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), respectively. Seeds of both species also germinated approximately 10 days earlier on uncrusted soil than on crusted soil. Conclusions: This study, and others in similar habitats, show that BSCs in mesic climates can influence germination and other early life-history stages of plants. We hope that further study of the interactions between BSCs and vascular plants in mesic climates will contribute to our understanding of the ecology of BSCs outside the arid and semiarid climates where they are more extensively studied.

Biological soil crusts inhibit seed germination in a mesic pine barren ecosystem

Aims - Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are known to affect plants’ germination and seedling establishment, but the ecological role of BSCs in more mesic climates are not so well-known. We tested the effects of moss-crusted versus uncrusted soils on seed germination dynamics in a temperate pine barren ecosystem. Methods - We conducted a 35-day laboratory assay of seed germination on moss-crusted soils versus uncrusted soils from the Albany (NY) Pine Bush Preserve. We tested total seed germination and the number of days to 50% of total germination (T50) of two herbaceous perennial forb species in each soil type. Results - Three and five times more seeds germinated on uncrusted soil than on crusted soil for bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), respectively. Seeds of both species also germinated approximately 10 days earlier on uncrusted soil than on crusted soil. Conclusions - This study, and others in similar habitats, show that BSCs in mesic ecosystems can influence germination and other early life-history stages of plants. We hope that further study of the interactions between BSCs and vascular plants in mesic climates will contribute to our understanding of the ecology of BSCs outside the arid and semiarid climates where they are more extensively studied.

Perennial lupin establishment and yield when sown at five different rates at Glenmore Station, Lake Tekapo.

The potential for perennial lupins to underpin grass/ legume pastures was the subject of a research programme for merino farmers in areas where more conventional legumes struggle to thrive. A previously uncultivated pasture on an acidic soil, (pH 5.0; Al = 5 mg/kg), and dominated by browntop, sweet vernal and Kentucky bluegrass, was sprayed with herbicide, burnt and top-dressed with 3 t/ha lime on half the area in the autumn prior to direct drilling on 12 Dec 2012. A blue perennial lupin and a multi-coloured (Russell) lupin were sown at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 32 kg/ha and cocksfoot at 2 kg/ha. Yield at four months after sowing had increased with the lupin sowing rate; up to 5.5 t dry matter (DM)/ha at 32 kg seed/ha. The annual yield for the following growth season was greater than 10 t DM/ ha with little response above 8 kg lupin seed/ha. There was a small but inconsistent response to the lime by the Russell lupin. Overall, lupin contributed 79% of annual yield and >90% of the spring yield at sowing rates >8 kg/ha. The sown cocksfoot and resident grasses showed a positive lime response at the lower lupin sowing rates. Key words: Lupinus perennis, L. polyphyllus