The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry"
Časopis "Poljoprivreda i šumarstvo"
- Since 1955 -
Year 2017, Volume 63 Issue 2 (30.06.2017)
| Year : | 2017 |
| Volume : | 63 |
| Issue : | 2 (30.06.2017) |
| Authors : | Witness MOJEREMANE, Thembinkosi MATHOWA, Demel TEKETAY, Tebogo STIMELA, Ishmael KOPONG, Melusi RAMPART |
| Title : | Presowing seed treatment methods to overcome dormancy in seeds of Vachellia rehmanniana Schinz |
| Abstract : | A germination experiment of Vachellia rehmanniana seeds was conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources from November to December 2016. Mature Vachellia rehmanniana seeds were collected from healthy erect trees at Butale Village, Botswana to investigate the effect of different pre-sowing treatment methods on seed germination. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments (control, mechanical scarification, boiling water, hot water and concentrated sulphuric acid (98.8%)). Boiling water had three different levels of time exposure (1, 3 and 5 min) whereas, concentrated sulphuric acid had four different levels of time exposure (15, 30, 45 and 60 min). The results revealed that seed germination percentage, germination mean time and germination index were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by pre-treatment methods. The highest significant cumulative germination percentages were recorded in seeds subjected to boiling water for 3 and 5 min, sulphuric acid for 45 and 60 min, and mechanical scarification. Based on the findings mechanical scarification and boiling water techniques are recommended for use in nurseries and by farmers because sulphuric acid is expensive and need to be handled by trained individuals. It is recommended that future research should target increasing the exposure time over five and 60 minutes for boiling water and sulphuric acid treatments, respectively for this species to increase the cumulative germination percentage |
| For citation : | Mojeremane W., Mathowa T., Teketay D., Stimela T., Kopong I., Rampart M., (2017): Presowing seed treatment methods to overcome dormancy in seeds of Vachellia rehmanniana Schinz, Agriculture and Forestry, 63(2): 171-181. DOI:10.17707/AgricultForest.63.2.15 |
| Keywords : | Vachellia rehmanniana, pre-treatment, seed dormancy, germination percentage |
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