What are the reasons for the low germination rate of rice seeds?
Rice is the most important food crop in China, and the most common method when planting it is sowing and raising seedlings, but many growers encounter the problem of a low seed germination rate when sowing and raising seedlings. So what are the reasons for the low germination rate of rice seeds? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction.
1. High temperature and high humidity climate
Generally, the higher the maturity of rice at harvest, the higher its germination rate; under normal circumstances, the seeds need 25 days to mature. The suitable temperature for rice seed germination is 30-35 degrees, and the minimum temperature is 10-15 degrees. Because the flowering parts of the seeds on the same plant differ, flowering and maturity occur in sequence, so fully mature seeds have shallow dormancy and sprout very easily, while insufficiently mature seeds have deep dormancy and are not easy to germinate. A hot and rainy climate is suitable for seed germination, and the ripening period of late rice falls right in the high-temperature season, so as soon as cloudy and rainy weather occurs, the seeds will sprout in the field.
2. Improper harvest time
The dormancy period of rice is not obvious. If the harvest is too early, the seeds are not yet fully mature; in an environment that is not completely dry, the seeds still carry on respiration, and over time the nutrients in the seeds are consumed quite seriously, which leads to a low germination rate. If the harvest is too late, the seeds will sprout directly under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, which also affects the germination rate. In addition, too much moisture in the seeds will accelerate their aging and reduce the germination rate. Therefore, the appropriate time must be grasped when harvesting, and it should not be too early or too late.
3. Improper drying
After the seeds are harvested, they need to be dried and cleaned of impurities before storage, but because the number of seeds is relatively large and the space is limited, there is also a lack of drying equipment. If they are not turned over in time during drying, the grain pile will heat up and sweat, which can very easily burn the seed embryos, causing the seeds to lose viability and their germination rate to be close to zero.
4. Mechanical damage
The seed coats of some rice varieties are thin, and the seeds can burst open after becoming plump; during harvest and processing, these varieties are also very prone to shelling. After losing the protection of the seed coat, these seeds are extremely difficult to develop, and even if they germinate, they can hardly form seedlings and tend to rot in the field.
The above introduction to the reasons for the low germination rate of rice seeds is hoped to help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.