EDN #161 Now Available

In this issue:

• Factors that Impact Seed Germination
• Echoes From our Network: Moringa Spacing Considerations
• From ECHO’s Seed Bank: Clay Beads for Drying and Preserving Seeds
• Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Aprovecho.org- Information on Fuel-Efficient Cookstoves

Download EDN 161

Factors that Impact Seed Germination

ECHO Staff and Network Members

Excerpt:

Another important cause for seed germination or seedling failure includes planting seeds too deep or too shallow. If seeds are planted too deeply, the seed may not contain enough energy to push the shoot out of the soil before it exhausts its food reserves (endosperm). If seeds are planted too shallow, roots may not be anchored deep enough, or seeds may dry out easily. As a general rule, you should plant seeds three to four times the width of the seed (Gilroy, 1986). Small seeds need little or no soil covering but are extremely vulnerable to drying out so make sure to water frequently during the first few weeks of these seeds’ life. Larger seeds have greater amounts of energy to push the first shoot (plumule) through the soil and into the air above the soil. Orientation of the seed being sown is not vital as seeds innately sense gravity and will send shoots up and roots down. 

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