Methods to Improve the Germination Rate in Licorice Cultivation
Licorice is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that tonifies the spleen and boosts qi, clears heat and detoxifies. As people's awareness of nutrition grows, market demand for it keeps increasing, and to meet that demand, more and more people are starting to grow it. However, when sowing, because the seed coat of licorice is fairly hard, its germination rate is low, which is a real headache. So is there any way to improve the germination rate of licorice cultivation? Let's take a look together.
1. Boiling water seed soaking method
Put the seeds to be sown into 100°C boiling water, using twice the amount of boiling water as seeds. Stir constantly while adding the seeds to the boiling water, until the boiling water cools, then soak for 6-8 hours, and once the seeds have absorbed enough water, scoop them out. Rub off the seed coat by hand, rinse clean with clear water, and they are ready for sowing.
2. Warming and repeated soaking method
First soak the seeds in 30-40°C warm water for 6-8 hours, so that half or two-thirds of the seeds are saturated with water. Divide them into two batches from the seeds that are not saturated with water, with the unsaturated ones at the bottom and the saturated ones on top, but not floating on the water surface. At this point, observe at regular intervals, constantly scooping out the thoroughly soaked seeds; repeat this several times, and scoop out all the thoroughly soaked seeds. As for the seeds that are not yet thoroughly soaked, put them into boiling water and soak for 3 minutes, then scoop them out and immediately put them into cold water; after the alternating hot and cold stimulation, soak them in 60°C warm water for 2-4 hours. Finally, remove the mucilage from the seed coats of all the seeds, and they are ready for sowing. The germination rate of this method can reach 90%.
3. Rice milling method
Spread the seeds on the millstone with a thickness of about 3 cm, turning the seeds as the millstone rolls, and keep watching for changes in the seed coat. When the seed coat turns greenish-white, soak the seeds in 40°C warm water for 2-3 hours, wash off the mucilage, and they are ready for sowing. An electric rice mill can also be used for grinding; first grade the seeds, then use the rice mill to scratch the seed coat without damaging the cotyledons of the seeds, keeping the seeds intact.
4. Sulfuric acid soaking method
You can use the corrosive nature of sulfuric acid to make the seed coat of licorice thinner. The specific method is: add 30-35 ml of 98% sulfuric acid to 1 kg of seeds, mix them evenly, and stir constantly so that they come into contact with the sulfuric acid. After some time, when black round corrosion spots appear on most of the seeds, quickly rinse the seeds clean with clear water and let them dry. However, when handling this, be careful not to let sulfuric acid touch your skin, to avoid causing skin burns.
The above is an introduction to methods for improving the germination rate of licorice. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.