Presowing seed treatment

Before sowing seeds in the soil, they are usually treated with various substances for the purpose of hardening, decontamination, etc. As a result of such presowing treatment, the seeds give more amicable shoots, and the plants themselves will be more enduring and will yield a greater yield.

Methods of seed treatment before sowing

There are various methods of presowing seed treatment. Let's look at them:

1. Selection and calibration . Seeds are selected according to their density - for this they are lowered into saline solution and only those left on the bottom are left for sowing. The seeds are usually calibrated manually, selecting the largest ones - such a seed material, as a rule, has a large supply of nutrients and will ensure better yields. Also, the purpose of calibration can be to select seeds of equal size that will give friendly shoots.
2. Soaking in water . Used to soften the dense skin and thereby reduce the germination time. Pre-soaked seeds of tugovishchih plants poklevyvayutsya faster. To do this, they are wrapped in gauze or cloth and immersed in water at room temperature for 10-12 hours. After soaking, the seeds should be dried and sown in moist soil.
3. Stratification . This method is a hardening of seeds in order to increase the cold resistance of plants. Usually used for such crops as carrots , beets, cabbage, parsley, onions, etc.
4. Warming . This is a less common method, but very effective. For example, pumpkin and watermelon seeds are warmed up for faster germination and branching, carrots and cabbage - to fight against phomosis and bacteriosis, onion - sowing - to prevent rind and prevent mildew. Seeds of various plants warm up usually within 5-6 hours, but under different temperature conditions, which should be strictly observed.
5. Sparging (treatment with oxygen in water). It is carried out with the help of aquarium compressors, placing the seeds in linen bags into the water at room temperature. Thanks to this treatment, the sprouting period in sparse seeds is much shorter.
6. Disinfection. Seed treatment is carried out by disinfecting them with a solution of potassium permanganate or hydrochloric acid. Sometimes the method of presowing treatment of seeds with hydrogen peroxide is also used, which helps to increase their germination, improve growth rates and improve immunity.