Study on Effect of Different Stocking Rates on Seed Germination of Caragana microphylla Lam.

Caragana microphylla Lam.is a widely distributed shrub species in the northern steppe and agro-pastoral ecotone of China.It has a great ecological and economic value.Many studies concerning the effects of temperature and light on seed germination had been conducted in many parts of the word,however,the studies about different grazing intensities and Caragana genus plant were rare.The study result showed that seed germination of C.microphylla was not influenced by light or darkness.Under 20-28℃ treatments,the species had a higher final percent germination and germination rate,and could increase the final percent germination if supplying light at the same temperature treatment.There were no significant differences in seed final percent germination between the seeds from the light and heavy grazing paddocks,however,the germination rate was decreasing with the increase of grazing intensities.