The effect of fertilizer seed coating on the germinating capacity and initial development of some turf grass species and white clover

Abstract

The effect of the iSeed method treatment on germination dynamics, total germinating capacity and the length of above-ground and root parts was studied in laboratory conditions for the Red fescue varieties Darwin and Moccasin, Kentucky bluegrass varieties Yvette and Miracle, Perennial ryegrass varieties Beatrice and Milan, and White clover varieties Pirouette and Pipolina. In the Perennial ryegrass, the iSeed treatment adversely affected the energy of germination in the first days of study. The germinating capacity gradually equalized during the experiment. Red fescue and Kentucky bluegrass did not show any response to the treatment. Similarly as the Perennial ryegrass, the two varieties of White clover exhibited higher energy of germination on the third day from the establishment. A demonstrably positive effect of the iSeed treatment was recorded on the number of germinated individuals. Particularly the variety Pirouette showed significantly higher germinating capacity until the tenth day of monitoring the treated seeds. The iSeed method had no statistically significant influence on the values of total germinating capacity in all tested species and varieties. The effect of the iSeed method treatment on the length of shoot and root parts was not statistically demonstrated. Some varieties showed a positive effect and some showed a negative effect. A significant difference was observed only in the untreated variety Moccasin whose above-ground part was by 14 mm longer as compared with the treated variant.

Keywords

• seed treatment
• germinating capacity
• iSeed
• turf species
• microclover