Determination of Optimum Temperature and Moisture Content for Crop Germination
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Date
2011
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Publisher
Nigeria Branch of International Soil Tillage Research Organization (ISTRO)
Abstract
The global warming due to climate change has effect on temperature and water availability
which are necessary for crop germination. A study was carried out to determine the optimum
temperature and moisture content required for crop germination. Maize, bean and okra were
sown in containers filled with loamy sand, sandy loam and sandy clay loam. Temperatures
used for the study were 5, 7, 15, 21, 25, 29, 35, 40 and 45oC while the water applied were
100, 80, 60, 40 and 20% of the field capacity. There was no germination at 5, 7 and 45oC
even at 100 and 80% water application. At 15oC, germination only occurred at 100% water
application and percentage germination was very low. The three crops germinated at 21oC
but percentage germination of the crops were high at 25, 29 and 35oC when water
applications were 100, 80, and 60% and declined at 40oC. Bean failed to germinate at 40oC
and germination of the three crops was affected at 20 and 40% water applications.
Description
Keywords
germination, germination temperature, germination moisture content, irrigation requirement, irrigation interval