The effects of fluid drilling germinating seeds on the emergence and subsequent growth of carrots in the field

Abstract

SummaryThe emergence and subsequent growth of carrot seedlings from fluid-drilled germinating and natural seeds were compared at six sowing dates between 17 February and 4 July, with and without irrigation during emergence. Seedling emergence from germinating seeds was in advance of that from natural seed by up to 10 days on all unirrigated sowings and some sowings on irrigated plots, leading to an increase in seedling size from germinating seeds two weeks after full emergence. The increase in dry weight with time showed there to be no differences in the growth pattern of plants from germinating seeds and natural seeds following seedling emergence. Differences in seedling size due to early emergence were maintained to give yield increases of marketable-sized roots at early harvests. Differences in plant size between treatments eventually declined to leave little difference in mean root size, root yield or uniformity in a range of size grades.