| Alison Stewart, Val Jo Anderson, and Stanley G. Kitchen |
| Authors are adjunct faculty, Life Science Department, Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif. 92069; professor, Botany and Range Science Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, Ut. 84602; and botanist, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Provo, Ut. 84606. |
Abstract |
| 'Immigrant' forage kochia (Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad.) is a valuable introduced subshrub, often used in reclamation plantings and seedings on western rangelands. Seedling establishment is best from fresh seed; however, many users plant stored seed and experience poor seeding success. One cause for failure is loss of seed viability in storage. Forage kochia seed was harvested on 4 dates in fall 1996 from 2 sites (wildland and irrigated) and tested for viability when fresh and after storage treatments. Storage treatments included low and high seed water contents (2–6% and 12-16%), cold and warm storage temperatures (2° and 25° C), and duration of storage (4, 8, and 12 months). Mature, highly viable forage kochia seed remains viable in storage longer than seed harvested prematurely. Low seed water content (2–6%) is essential to preserving maximum seed viability. Storing seed at a cold temperature (2° C) is also helpful in maintaining viability. |
| Key Words: Kochia prostrata, revegetation, seed care, greenstripping |