Effect of fire retardants on germination of agricultural seeds

Abstract

The occurrence of fires in agricultural areas grown with winter maize has become recurrent in the Central-West region of Brazil, since the harvest occurs in the dry season in the region. Fire retardants can be used as an indirect control of fire; they consisted of chemical products that can remain in the straws or on the soil after the fire extinction. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of two short-term fire retardants (Phos-Chek WD881® and Hold Fire®) and a hydrogel (alternative fire retardant) on germination of rice (Oryza sativa), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), millet (Pennisetum glaucum), maize (Zea mays), and soybean (Glycine max) seeds. The control treatment consisted of only distilled water. The seed germination percentage and speed index, mean time for germination, and seedling growth (shoot and root length and dry weight) were evaluated. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with 4 replications per treatment; each experimental unit consisted of 100 seeds maintained in germination chambers (30 °C and photoperiod of 12 hours). The effects of the fire retardants and hygroscopic polymer on the seed germination and seedling initial growth were specific, and no significant effect caused by the variations in the concentrations of the fire retardants was found.