A comparison of seedling emergence from dry-sown and fluid-drilled carrot seeds

Abstract

SummaryThe emergence of carrot seedlings from dry-sown seeds, fluid-drilled germinating seeds (38% germinated) and fluid-drilled seeds selected for uniform germination was compared from eight sowings spread over one season. On irrigated plots fluid drilling germinating seeds consistently increased the percentage emergence and reduced the mean emergence times of seedlings, compared to drysown seeds. Seedling emergence was further improved at all sowings and made more predictable by fluid drilling selected 100% germinated seeds. However, under conditions of low soil moisture on unirrigated plots there was no difference in the percentage emergence between treatments although selected-germinated seeds still emerged earlier than the dry-seeded control. A major source of variation in crop response to fluid drilling was shown to be the low proportion of seeds normally germinated at the time of sowing in a variably-germinating batch of seeds. Sowing 100% germinated seeds made emergence more predictable over a. wi...