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Soil Water Potential Requirement for Germination of Winter Wheat
Author(s) -
Wuest Stewart B.,
Lutcher Larry K.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj2012.0110
Subject(s) - germination , cultivar , sowing , agronomy , soil water , arid , environmental science , water potential , biology , soil science , ecology
In semi‐arid climates, seed is often sown into soil with inadequate water for rapid germination. Distinguishing between adequate and marginal water can be difficult. Planting decisions become increasingly complicated when one considers possible differences between cultivars. This study was designed to measure the soil water potential limits for rapid, adequate, and marginal germination of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). Laboratory data showed that germination was rapid (3 to 4 d) in soil at water potentials above ‐1.1 MPa and slower (4 to 5 d) at water potentials that ranged from ‐1.1 to ‐1.6 MPa. Below ‐1.6 MPa, less than half of the experimental units achieved the cut‐off criteria of 75% germination with 5‐mm radical length within 25 d. Six cultivars varied in time to germination by an average of 0.34 d, and two randomly selected seed lots of each cultivar differed by an average of 0.20 d. We conclude that variation between seed lots may be as important as variation between cultivars when looking for seed with superior germination under marginal soil water contents.