Germination of Hydro-Seeded Kentucky Bluegrass(Poa pratensisL.) and Perennial Ryegrass(Lolium perenneL.) in Response to Seed Agitation in the Tank

Abstract

Abstract Seed of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were added (5.5 kg each) to 1135 liters of water and 54.4 kg of wood fiber in a hydro-seeding unit that. used a centrifugal pump both to agitate (recirculate) the slurry and deliver it to the seedbed. Samples were collected after 0, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes of agitation, the seed separated from the fiber and air-dried. The seed then were subjected to a germination test (15°/25°C, 16 h/8 h; darkness) and a slant test to determine primary root length at 14 days after planting. Increasing duration of agitation had no effect on germination percentage of Kentucky bluegrass (79% average) but slightly decreased germination of perennial ryegrass from 91% at 0 minutes to 82% after 120 minutes. Slurry agitation had slight effects on germination rate; Kentucky bluegrass was slowed slightly (less than 1 day) and perennial ryegrass was hastened slightly (maximum of 0.5 days). Primary root length of Kentucky bluegras...