Effects of irrigation frequency and grit color on the germination of lodgepole pine seeds
This article is part of a larger document. View the larger document here.Abstract
Nursery cultural practices during germination can be highly variable between existing production facilities. Although nursery guidebooks suggest keeping seeds moist, there are no known scientific answers indicating what sufficient moisture levels are. This study objective was to characterize differing irrigation regimes and grit color choices on different germination parameters (Germination Capacity, GC; Peak Value Germination, PV; Germination Value, GV; and Germination Rate, GR50) using seedbed temperature and soil matric water potential (Ψ) measurements. No significant differences were observed between irrigation frequency and grit color for GC and GR50. The indices of germination speed, PV and GV, were significant for irrigation frequency (P < 0.05), but not grit color. No correlations were observed between seedbed temperature and GC, PV, and GV parameters, and only weak correlations were observed between GC, GV, PV, and Ψ. Despite the lack of significance and correlations, Ψ values indicated that germinating seeds were still in contact with adequately moist soils at low irrigation frequencies. These results have implications in current nursery management and may contribute to watering reductions and potential cost savings.