Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 2015, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (6): 616-620.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2015.0059

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of light and water depth on seed germination of Phragmites australis in the wetlands of Songnen Plain

LIU Bo1,2, LÜ Xian-Guo1,*(), JIANG Ming1, ZHANG Wen-Guang1, WU Hai-Tao1   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
    2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2014-11-18 Accepted:2015-04-14 Online:2015-06-01 Published:2015-07-02
  • Contact: Xian-Guo LÜ
  • About author:

    # Co-first authors

Abstract: <i>Aims</i>

Excessive growth of undesired plants, including ruderal natives and tall wetland species, posts great threat to wetland restoration. In this study, we examined the seed germination of Phragmites australis, an undesired species, to evaluate its impact on the restoration of desired Scirpus planiculmis and to provide scientific basis for vegetation management in Momoge wetland.

<i>Methods</i>

The germination experiment was conducted in incubators to examine the effects of light intensity (full light, green shade and dark environment) and water depth (0, 5, 15 and 30 cm), based on field observation, on seed germination of P. australis.

<i>Important findings</i>

Percentage germination of P. australis was significantly higher under “green shade” or “dark” environment than under “full light”. The species had the highest germination rate (86.67% ± 2.36%) at 0 cm water depth under the three light conditions. The interaction between light intensity and water depth on seed germination was significant (p < 0.05) indicating that under different light conditions, increase of water depth decreased seed germination rates at different degrees. We recommend to remove the litter and P. australis to increase light penetration, and to maintain a stable water depth for effectively inhibiting the regeneration of Phragmites and enhance the restoration of S. planiculmis.

Key words: light condition, Momoge wetland, Phragmites australis, seed germination, water depth