Seed Germination 



Of the 10,800 ponderosa pine seeds that were planted on the 27 study plots the 

 previous fall, 4,812 (44.6 percent) germinated. Germination percentages varied greatly 

 ranging from 70 percent to only 16 percent, with the greatest germination occurring in 

 the opening treatments compared to the pine-influenced treatments. Germination in the 

 three opening treatments accounted for about 50 percent of the total germination. The 

 three opening treatments had an average germination of 65.4 percent, which was signifi- 

 cantly greater at the 1 percent level than the six pine-influenced treatments, with an 

 average germination of 34.1 percent. 



Germination in the opening- litter plots was very similar to that in the opening- 

 cleared plots, indicating that under the environmental conditions of the 1975 growing 

 season, pine litter and duff had no effect on germination in the openings (fig. 2). 

 The opening-natural plots averaged about 12 percent less germination than the other 

 two opening treatments, but the differences were not significant. Germination in the 

 opening-natural plots was reduced somewhat because of unsatisfactory seedbeds, such as 

 the middle of clumps of bunchgrass, or on crusted mosses or lichens. The opening-litter 

 and opening-cleared treatments had significantly greater germination than all pine- 

 influenced treatments. The natural and canopy treatments had by far the lowest 

 germination. 



Figupe 2. — Seed gemrination peroent- 

 agesj with statistical oomparisons 

 of treatments. (Treatments not 

 underscored with the same line are 

 significantly different at the 5 

 percent level. ) 



TREATMENT 



10 



