Atriplex (canescens)

John T. Harrington Professor New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center P. O. Box 359 Mora, New Mexico 87732-0359 575-387-2319 575-387-9012 (fax) joharrin@nmsu.edu www.arborday.org

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Family Scientific Name:	Chenopodiaceae
Family Common Name:	Goosefoot Family
Scientific Name:	Atriplex canescens (Pursh)Nutt.
Common Name:	Fourwing saltbush
Species Code:	ATCA
General Distribution:	This species is widespread in the western United States from the Great Plains to the Pacific coast states and can also be found as far south as northern Mexico and as far north as southern Canada (Tirmenstein 1986). Fourwing saltbush consists of numerous ecotypes, forms, varieties, and numerous races, both diploid and polyploid (Tirmenstein 1986). Throughout its range, fourwing saltbush occurs as a dominant or codominant species in numerous shrubland and grassland communities, mostly in sandy soils or gravelly washes (Meyer 2001, Tirmenstein 1986).
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	164 ml conetainer
Time To Grow:	6 Months
Target Specifications:	Height: 15 to 20 cm Caliper:2 to 3 mm Root System: Firm root plug.
Propagule Collection:	Fruits, which are winged utricles, mature in the fall and persist on the plant well into spring. When ripe, the fruits turn a golden color and are easily pulled off the plant in large numbers.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are removed from their sheaths by gentle rubbing in a rubbing box. This box is straight-sided with a rigged, rubber mat covering the bottom. A wooden block (also with a rigged covering) is used to rub the seeds in the box. A Dakota blower can be used to separate seeds from debris, but careful threshing in front of a strong fan can also be used to purify the seed. By this method, the unseparated mixture is placed on a wide pan and tossed gently in the air in front of the fan-the debris is blown away while the heavier seeds remain. Cleaned seeds are refrigerated until use.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds are leached 24 hours with running water, soaked in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 4 hours, leached for another 24 hours and then stratified at 3 to 5 C for 4 weeks. Leaching is accomplished by placing seeds in homemade leaching apparatus constructed of a short length of PVC pipe. One end of the pipe is modified to allow a hose to be attached, and the other end sealed except for a small screen-covered hole to allow water exit. Leaching before hydrogen peroxide treatment is necessary to remove chemicals (possibly germination inhibitors) that foam when they react with the peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide treatments involve submersing seeds in a sufficient volume of hydrogen peroxide to completely cover the seeds and stirring vigorously for at least 30 seconds at the start of treatment. Following treatment, the seeds should be rinsed under running tap water for several minutes and then soaked briefly in several changes of fresh water, or, preferably, leached immediately. Fourwing saltbush seeds are stratified naked in a self-sealing plastic bag. As germination occurs during the 4-week stratification period, germinants are removed from stratification and transplanted. After 4 weeks the remaining seeds are sown.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation occurs in a greenhouse and outdoor nursery (shadehouse) facility. During establishment and initial portion of the active growth period seedlings are kept in the greenhouse. During the later portion of the active growth period through the storage period seedlings are kept in the shadehouse. Seed is sown in early May and seedlings are moved into the shadehouse in late June when seedlings are between 7 and 10 cm tall. Growing media is a 2:1:1 (v:v:v) peat:perlite:vermiculite mixture. Controlled release fertilizer 14-14-14 (N-P-K) 3 -4 month is incorporated into the media at the rate of 4 kg/m3. Greenhouse and shadehouse irrigation is provided via computer controlled irrigation system utilizing RainBird plastic MPR nozzles. Irrigation heads are spaced to provide head to head coverage. Seedlings are fertilized using a fertigation system, which utilizes the irrigation system.
Establishment Phase:	The top of the media is dibbled between 2 and 4 mm and seed is placed in the dibble hole. A 2 to 5 mm layer of medium chicken grit is place of the top of the media/seed to serve as a gravel mulch. The containers are irrigated 4 to 8 times daily to keep the surface of the media moist. Greenhouse night and day temperatures range from 18 to 26 C and no supplemental light is provided. Thinning of germinants to one seedling per cell begins after 14 days. The container system allows for the consolidation of germinants to separate containers, which are removed from daily misting. This process also begins after 14 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	28 days
Active Growth Phase:	The first portion (through week 4 to 5) of the active growth phase is performed in the greenhouse. The remaining 8 to 10 weeks is performed in the shade house. Containers are irrigated as needed, which usually involves irrigation once every 4 to 5 days for the first several weeks then one every 2 to 3 days through the remainder of the active growth period. Containers are allowed to dry down to a moderate state between irrigations. This irrigation regime is used to help minimize root disease problems. All irrigations are done early in the morning, which allows foliage to sufficiently dry before nightfall, minimizing foliar disease problems. During the active growth phase, seedlings are fertigated every other irrigation with a liquid based fertilizer (20-10-10; N-P-K) at a rate of 50 ppm N until they attain the target shoot height (15 to 18 cm). During the greenhouse portion of the active growth period greenhouse temperatures during the day are 21 to 26 C and during the night 18 to 22 C. Ambient photoperiod is supplemented with 5 min light interruptions every 2 hours throughout the night from 75 watt incandescent lights suspended 2 meters above greenhouse benches. Once transferred outside, ambient temperature and light regimes are utilized. If space is available, containers are spaced to every other slot in racks when transferred to the shadehouse to improve air flow and reduce the likelihood of foliar disease problems. Growing tips are pinched back at this time to promote branching and prevent leggy growth.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	12 to 15 weeks
Hardening Phase:	This phase begins in late summer to early fall as soon as seedlings attain their target shoot height. Containers are leached with a heavy irrigation and a series of incrementally increasing water stresses is applied to restrict any further height growth. In Las Cruces, ambient day temperatures are still quite warm, but the interval between irrigations becomes progressively longer due to seedlings becoming acclimated to water deficits and the gradual cooling associated with the onset of fall. Seedlings are fertilized every third irrigation (fertigated) with a liquid based fertilizer (10-30-20; N-P-K) at a rate of 25 ppm N.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 to 6 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Seedlings are kept in the shadehouse through the winter and are usually shipped in late February to early March. Irrigation intervals are extended during this period and fertilizer is provided every fourth irrigation as described above.
Length of Storage:	5 months
References:	[ITIS] Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2001. (On-line database). http://www.itis.usda.gov. Accessed 11 Nov 2002. Meyer SE. 2001. Atriplex L. saltbush. In: Bonner, FT. Woody Plant Seed Manual interim website; www.wpsm.net Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. Tirmenstein DA. 1986. Atriplex canescens. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (2002, September). Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [accessed 09/04/02].

Citation:

Rosner, Lee S.; Harrington, John T. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Atriplex canescens (Pursh)Nutt. plants 164 ml conetainer; New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center Mora, New Mexico. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/19). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.