SEEDING AND PLANTING MATERIAL
The seeds intended for sowing must meet the requirements set by the state standards for seed materials, because the quality of the seeds largely determines the effect of the work invested in plant cultivation. The official evaluation of seed materials is carried out by seed evaluation stations in Poland, subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture, forestry and food management.
Production of certified seeds, that is, seed, they deal with Przedsiębiorstwo Nasiennictwa Ogrodniczego i Szkółkarstwa (in the "Polnas”). When evaluating seeds, performed by seed evaluation stations, the differentiation of morphological features is taken into account, anatomical, chemical composition and biological properties of seeds. One of the basic steps in evaluating seeds is marking:
– health, which is important for the later development of plants (hence the recommendation for seed treatment),
– cleanliness,
– humidity,
– germination capacity,
– value in use,
– mass 1000 seeds.
The health of seeds is expressed by the degree of seed infection with diseases and the scale of damage caused by pests. Besides, the smell of the seeds is determined, their color and shine, as characteristic of a given species or variety of plant.
Cleanliness, i.e.. the degree of contamination of seeds with soil, plant debris, weed seeds, etc., and their moisture content is expressed as a percentage. When the seeds contain too much water, they cannot be stored for a long time, because it has a negative effect on their germination capacity. In properly dried seeds, the water content is 10-15%.
An important feature for practice is the so-called. seed germination capacity, expressed in two quantities: energy and power of germination.
Germination energy – this is the number of seeds, which would normally germinate within a certain short period of time (3-10 days). The power of germination – this is the number of seeds, which would normally have sprouted over a sufficiently long period of time (10-28 days); it determines the number of living seeds. Both energy, as well as the germination power is expressed as a percentage in the laboratory, but it is also possible to determine the germination rate at home; it is about:
– sowing seeds on a suitable substrate, which may be filter paper, lignin, sand or compost earth;
– maintaining the temperature optimal for germination for a certain period of time (preferably between 20-30 ° C);
– providing germinating seeds with sufficient water and air access (oxygen);
– providing access to light; however, it should be emphasized, that there are seeds of plants, which only sprout in the dark.
Value in use, expressed as a percentage, is calculated, using the following formula:
value in use (Wu) = (seed purity x germination force) / 100
By having seeds from the previous season or of unknown origin in stock, their germination capacity can be tested at home. A random sample is taken from each batch of seeds, counting down 2 times after 100 or after 50 pieces, and spreads evenly on a moist surface, which for fine seeds can be blotting paper, flannel, and for coarse seeds (e.g. beans, broad beans or peas) – fresh, washed, coarse sand. The substrate with sown fine seeds is placed on a plate and covered with another, upside down. Sand for sowing coarse seeds is placed in a deeper container. The seeds are placed in shallow depressions in the sand, pressing them down a bit, but not covering with sand or a saucer. The seed samples prepared in this way are placed in places with room temperature and regularly sprinkled, that the substrate is constantly moderately moist. Excess water must be drained off the substrate, because it can cause the seeds to mold.
After a few days, the seeds of many species begin to germinate. Then they have to be removed from the ground, counting and writing in a notebook. Seeds are considered to be normally germinating, whose sprouts are bright, well developed, no stains. By removing the seeds germinated, it is necessary to collect the moldy seeds at the same time, rotting, because they won't sprout anymore, a can be a source of infection of the remaining seeds. The seeds have germinated, including two lots, is divided by two, thus obtaining an average germination rate. The germination of seeds is determined, as already noted, in percents, i.e.. relative to 100. For example: if z 2 partii-po 100 seeds in one attempt germinated 82 art, and in the second 86 pieces, then the average is 84 art (82+86=168:2=84, that is 84%).
The germination capacity of each species varies greatly. Based on research, germination capacity standards have been developed under observation and experiments, within which the germinated seeds are considered valuable, because sown according to sowing standards will give the desired number of plants per 1 m2.
Seeds not up to standard, are not admitted to trading and should not be purchased.
The method of storage and proper drying of seeds has a large impact on the germination capacity of seeds.