Effect of Sodium and Magnesium Sulfate on Forage Seed Germination

Abstract

detected. Rate of germination decreased with increasing salt concentration. Reed canarygrass (Phuluris cunuriensis L.) had a significantly slower rate of germination than tall wheatgrass (Agropyron ekmgurum [Host] Beauv.) and tall fescue (Feshrcomrmdinaaea Schreb.). A study period of 12-16 days was used in these 3 recent studies. The incubation time rquired to stabilise the germination percent for each species in the salt solutions varied. Alkali sacaton and switcbgrass germination percent stabilized after 7 days; founving saitbusb, little bluee and green needlegrass, 21 days. The germination percent of Canby bluegrass increased throughout the 2g-day study period. Germination, after the above incubation periods, was enhanced for fourwing saltbush by the NasSO4 and MgSO4 treatments. Germination of green needlegrass and red clover was depressed by aI salt treatments, and alkali sacaitoa, little bluee (2) to document the germination percent of 8 forage species in response to the NasSO4 and MgSO4 solutions after the required incubation period. Material and Methods