Effects of seed treatments and planting depth on emergence of sea buckthorn species

Abstract

The influence of seed treatments and planting depth on the percentage of seed emergence of Hippophae rhamnoides L. 'Indian-Summer', H. tibetana Schlecht., H. neurocarpa Liu and He, H. salicifolia D. Don, and H. rhamnoides subsp. rhamnoides, sinensis, turkestanica, and mongolica were studied. Surface seeding had higher percentages of seed emergence and more rapid completion of emergence compared to a 1- or 2-cm (0.4- or 0.8-inch) seeding depth. Seeds soaked in water or potassium nitrate solution at room temperature emerged in higher percentages. Average plant height of the eight species and subspecies varied significantly at the end of first growing season.