Use of Sieved Compost Plus Hydrogel for Solid Matrix Priming of Carrot Seeds

Abstract

In this study we report the water release curve of a compost-based carrier for solid matrix priming and its effects on carrot seed germination. ‘Danvers Half Long’ and ‘Nantes Scarlet’ carrot (Daucus carota) seeds were primed for 7 d at 15°C in a carrier consisting of 5:1:5.7 sieved compost: hydrogel:distilled water (based on weight) equaling a water potential of −1.0 MPa. Seeds were blended with carrier at 1:10, 1:20, 1:30, or 1:40 (based on weight) and compost priming was compared with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) priming procedure. Germination testing at 20-30°C (16-8 h) in darkness indicated that all compost priming treatments hastened seed germination more than PEG priming. Compost priming at 1:30 increased final germination percentage (FGP) for ‘Nantes Scarlet’ (FGP = 85%) compared to PEG primed (FGP = 72%) seeds but ‘Danvers Half Long’ FGP was similar for all treatments. For both cultivars, seeds that were compost primed had reduced G (days to 10% FGP) and G (days to 50% FGP) compared to PEG primed or nonprimed seed. For ‘Danvers Half Long’ carrot seeds, priming ratios of 1:30 reduced G values more effectively than all other treatments. For ‘Nantes Scarlet’ carrot seeds, G10 and G50 values were reduced similarly at all seed-to-carrier ratios. Compost primed seeds could be dried and stored for 35 d at 3 or 20-30°C (16-8 h) for ‘Danvers Half Long’ and for 35 d at 3°C for ‘Nantes Scarlet’ with no loss in priming benefit. We conclude that solid matrix priming with a compost based carrier is a satisfactory alternative to PEG priming to improve germination of carrot seed.