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19 <br />• <br />CICER MILKVETCH STUDY <br />Cicer miikvetch is an introduced legume species which shows <br />considerable potential for revegetation work in the moutain shrub <br />vegetation type. However, seedling vigor for this species is poor. <br />Dr. Charley Townsend of the United States Department of Agriculture - <br />Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS) has been working with the <br />genetics of titer miikvetch for ten years. He has put in the following <br />two studies on the Colowyo revegetation plot: 1. a seedling vigor <br />study which involves testing 35 progeny for seedling vigor. 2. Seed <br />scarification study; scarification (seed coat abrasion) will enhance <br />the germination of titer miikvetch. This study is to determine the <br />intensity of scarification needed. <br />' Approximately 16 seeds per foot were seeded on October 6, 1975 <br />in 12-foot long rows in each study. Rows are 18 inches apart and <br />there are four replications in each study. A list of progeny used <br />in the seedling vigor study and the code for each accompanies <br />Figure 5. Dr. Townsend's seed scarification study involves two <br />selections of titer and six seed scarification treatments. The <br />treatments are the number of times the seeds are propelled by air <br />pressure into a drum-lined with sandpaper; the usual treatment is <br />• 5 times. On Figure 5, the scarification study is coded by the <br />selection number. All seeds were inoculated previous to sowing on <br />October 6, 1975. <br />The evaluation of the seedling vigor study consisted of <br />seedling counts (1976) and then in later years, determining which <br />progeny are best adapted to climatic and soil conditions at the <br />Colowyo mine. Evaluation of the scarification study consists of <br />counting the number of seedlings emerged in 1976. <br />Results 1976 <br />Progenies. Considerable variability existed among the 35 pro- <br />geniesforseedling emergence; the number of seedlings per progeny <br />ranged from 10 to 56 per 10 ft. of row with an average of 24. The <br />number of seedlings for the common commercial varieties Lutana and <br />Oxley was 12 and 29, respectively. Ten progenies had 30 or more <br />seedlings per 10 ft. of row; consequently, the prospects for improving <br />the seedling vigor of titer miikvetch appear promising. In addition, <br />titer miikvetch has the ability to spread in favorable environments <br />because of its vigorous rhizomes. Therefore, a relatively thin <br />stand can develop into a satisfactory one. <br />• <br />