Comparison of Seed Bed Preparation Methods on Seedling Emergence Rate in Six Range Species in Khash Rangelands of Iran

This study was conducted to compare the methods of seed bedpreparation in rangelands of Khash region in Sistan and Baluchestan province inIran. A split plot design was conducted based on Randomized complete blockdesign with three replications in 1999. Five seed bed preparation methods wereused as main plot as: 1) Seed sown by passing livestock. 2) Seed sown machinery.3) Seeds sown as drilled into furrows. 4) Seeds sowing into furrows covered bystraw mulch .5) Seed sown machinery and pressed by roller. Six range specieswere used as: 1) Artemisia santolina, 2) Eurotia ceratoides, 3) Zygophyllumeurypterum, 4) Astragalus squarrosus, 5) Stipagrostis sp. and 6) Artemisia sieberi, as sub-plot. The results of experiment showed significant differences among theseed bed preparation methods on seedling emergence rate. Astragalus and Eurotiahad higher germination percent when they sown and passing through livestock.Zygophyllum and Eurotia had higher germination by machinery seeder followedby roller. The lowest germination percent was obtained by method of seed sowingin furrows covered by straw mulch and seeds were sown machinery. Among thespecies, Eurotia, Zygophyllum and Astragalus were ranked in the first orderfollowed by Artemisia. The Stipagrostis species. Had no germination for all ofseed bed treatments.