I want to use my own saved wheat seed. How do I check if germination is good enough and adjust seed rate.
How do I check and improve seed germination before sowing wheat at home?
PPremnarayan Patel9mo ago · 324 views
4 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓8mo ago
Do a simple home germination test by counting out 100 clean seeds, placing them between moist cloth or in moist sand, keeping them warm and damp for several days, then counting how many sprout to get the germination percentage. If germination is high your normal seed rate is fine; if it is low, raise the seed rate proportionally or buy fresh certified seed, since poor germination gives a thin stand and lower yield. Always treat the seed before sowing. For best assurance, certified seed gives reliable germination, but the home test is a good check for saved seed.
DDilip Patel8mo ago
I do the 100-seed cloth test every year before sowing my saved seed. If too few sprout, I increase the seed rate or buy new seed.
RRamcharan Patel8mo ago
Before even doing the test, clean and grade your saved seed and throw out the shrivelled, broken and tiny grains. When I started sowing only the plump, bold, well-filled seed my germination and the early vigour both improved. Good seed selection is half the job.
MMukesh Lodhi8mo ago
Keep the test cloth warm and damp but not dripping wet, and somewhere not too cold, or the count comes out misleadingly low. I once kept it in a cold corner and thought my seed was bad when it was just the cold slowing it. Warmth and steady moisture give you the true germination.