Effects of mineral salts on forage seeds germination

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate seed germination of three different forage species subjected to saline stress. The seeds remained in salt for 0 to 24 h and were then deposited in field beds. After 15 days, the germination was evaluated from its emergence. The effect of NaCl on germination was evaluated for the following treatments: a) 0 h (control); b) permanence in NaCl for 6 h; c) permanence in NaCl for 12 h; d) permanence in NaCl for 18 h; e) permanence in NaCl for 24 h. Five treatments with five replicates were applied to each forage species. The experimental design was completely randomized where the treatment was represented by the moment of observation, being 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h. For this experiment, differences (P < 0.05) were observed among treatments for the three forage species. For black oat and calopogonium, the different moments of salt stress in which their seeds were treated did not affect their germination. Perennial soybean suffered a decrease in germination as its seeds were exposed to salt for 6 h resulting in only 1.6% of germinated seeds. Saline stress did not affect the germination of black oat and calopogonium, both had higher values as compared to perennial soybean, in exposure time of 24 h. It is concluded that in the experimental conditions, black oat and calopogonium can be mixed with the mineral salt, without negative effect on its viability.