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Tomato seed germination and emergence at controlled soil‐moisture tensions from 0·5 to 20 cm. mercury
Author(s) -
HACK H. R. B.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1963.tb03715.x
Subject(s) - mercury (programming language) , germination , moisture , soil water , porosity , biology , horticulture , materials science , composite material , ecology , computer science , programming language
SUMMARY A method of controlling the tension (hydrostatic head)—and hence soil moisture—in seed emergence tests, using porous ceramic plates, is described. In the compost employed emergence was good at 2 cm. mercury tension but severely retarded at 1 cm. mercury. This small difference in tension was associated with a large difference in the soil pore space occupied by air. Tensions below 1 cm. mercury would be expected in seed boxes watered according to customary practice. The results are discussed in the light of reports on gaseous diffusion in porous media and on gas balance in soil at different tensions. The need for ensuring an adequate distribution of pores large enough to be filled with air at the low tensions found in seed boxes is indicated.