This study was carried out in a protected area at Rangeland and Dry
Environment Research Station, belongs to ACSAD and Aleppo university in
the Muslumieh, Aleppo, during 2004, by cultivating 11 plant species belong to
three different families, Fab
aceae (3 species), Poaceae (7 species) and Rosaceae
(one species), using 4 moisture Levels (5, 10, 15 and 20 mm), and 6 seeding
depths (0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 cm). Results showed that the seeds of all the
investigated species failed to germinate at the moisture level of 5 mm, while
Onobrychis sativa (36.2%), Agropyron elongatum (53.9%), Agropyron cristatum
(36.1%), Phalaris tuberose (41.1%), Dactylis glomerata (12.2%) and
Sanguisorba minor (1.12%) germinated under 10 mm humidity. The seeds of all
investigated species germinated at the higher moisture levels (15 and 20 mm),
but the germination ratio varied between the species. The seeds of all studied
species were capable of germinating when placed at the soil surface and seeding
depth of 3 cm. The seeds of Agropyron elongatum (73.3%), Agropyron cristatum
(13.3%), Phalaris tuberosa (36.7%) were capable of germinating at depth of 5
cm. The seeds of all studied species failed to germinate at a the planting depth
of 7 cm.
