Wheat Seed Pre-Sowing Treatment Methods and Key Technical Points

Wheat is one of the main grain crops in China, with a vast planting area across the country. China now consumes as much as several hundred thousand tons of wheat each year, and wheat yield and quality are closely tied to seed quality. That is why before sowing we need to disinfect and pregerminate the seeds. So how should wheat seeds be treated before sowing? Let us walk you through it below!

1. Seed selection

Seed selection is very important. After choosing high-quality seeds, you still need to screen them again, picking out insect-damaged, diseased, shriveled seeds and impurities. Pay special attention to whether there are wild oat seeds or degenerated seeds. This ensures the seedlings grow vigorously and uniformly and also reduces weeding costs. When picking seeds, if the quantity is small, simply sift them out with a sieve. If the quantity is large, it is best to prepare a seed sorting machine, which is both simple and helps guarantee seed quality.

2. Sunning the seeds

Wheat seeds need a certain amount of time to germinate and emerge, usually about a week. Before sowing, we should advance the emergence rate as much as possible, because the earlier the seedlings emerge, the more fully they can use the nutrients inside the seed, push out three true leaves as soon as possible, and begin photosynthesis early, improving the growth capacity of the seedlings. So to advance emergence time, we should break the seeds' dormancy period as early as possible. Therefore, before sowing, choose a sunny day and put the seeds out in the sun to sun them, which can effectively end the seeds' dormancy period.

3. Seed dressing

Seed dressing can reduce pathogens on the seeds or pest pathogens in the soil. That is, water and chemicals are mixed and then stirred together with the seeds. When dressing seeds, we should do it with a purpose based on common pests and diseases and soil-borne diseases. So systemic fungicides and insecticides are generally the main choice. Some farmers habitually use micro-fertilizers for seed dressing, but this method only improves the germination and emergence time of the seeds and has no sterilizing effect. About 2-3 weeks before sowing, we should use agents such as triadimefon for seed dressing, which can suppress the occurrence of diseases such as rust and powdery mildew. Stir it thoroughly, then keep it sealed for about 2 days.

4. Seed soaking

The main purpose of soaking seeds is to improve the germination capacity of wheat seeds. First, soak the seeds in warm water at about 53 degrees for about 12 minutes, then scoop them out and immediately put them into cold water for 5-6 minutes. Then put them into warm water at 55 degrees, and repeat this cycle 7-8 times. This can effectively improve the germination capacity of the seeds and also has a sterilizing effect. Alternatively, you can soak them in water mixed with quicklime for 1 day, then scoop them out and air-dry them ready for sowing; the effect is about the same.

When using quicklime to soak seeds, note that it is best to use fresh lime and not lime that has been broken up and stored for too long. During soaking, do not stir the seeds, to prevent losing the soaking effect. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help you!