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Effect of Initial Seed Moisture Content on Emergence and Yield of Grain Sorghum 1
Author(s) -
Phillips J. C.,
Youngman V. E.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1971.0011183x001100030013x
Subject(s) - sorghum , imbibition , water content , agronomy , radicle , sowing , germination , biology , moisture , semis , yield (engineering) , materials science , geotechnical engineering , metallurgy , composite material , engineering
Emergence and yield of grain sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) were studied as affected by the moisture content of seeds at sowing time. Sorghum seed sown with 8% moisture content emerged less than seed sown with either 11 or 14% moisture. Low initial seed moisture content and low substrate temperatures resulted in delayed radicle protrusion from the pericarp as well as a decrease in seed respiration rate during imbibition. Effects on emergence were great enough to be reflected in grain yields, especially under dryland conditions.