Evaluation of Germination Patterns of Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) as Influenced by Temperature, Salinity and Waterlogging Stress

Understanding the germination and emergence patterns of weeds as well as factors which influence on these patterns are beneficial for management programs with respect to weeds. In order to evaluate the effect of temperature, waterlogging and salinity on germination and emergence of common lambsquarters, three separate experiments were conducted based on a completely randomized design with four replications. Results of temperature test revealed the highest germination percentages such as 87, 93 and 88%, obtained in temperature ranging including 15, 20 and 25 °C respectively. Maximum germination rate, radicle length, plumule length, and seedling dry weight recorded at 20°C. Optimum seed vigor index equals to 796.29 observed at 20°C. Germination percentage reduced with increasing waterlogging duration and halted after 8 and 10 days of consecutive waterlogging. Mean comparisons revealed that radicle and plumule length, seedling dry weight and vigour index reduced significantly by increasing the period of waterlogging. Salinity adversely affected germination percentage, germination rate and seedling dry weight of common lambsquarters. These factors were at the highest amount in control and 50 mM NaCl treatments. A downward trend was observed in these factors as NaCl concentrations increased and finally the germination process stopped at concentrations ranged from 300 to 400 mM NaCl. Radicle and plumule length were also reduced from 10.51 and 9.23 cm in control plot to 3.57 and 2.47 cm at 250 mM NaCl. Overall, the results revealed that the Maximum seed vigor index equals to 851.84 was obtained from control treatment and seed vigor halted when the salinity level exceeded to more than 250 mM NaCl. Finally, the results showed that optimum temperature for germination of common lamsquarters was 20 °C and occurrences of salinity and waterlogging stress can decrease growth indices of this weed in germination and seedling stages.