Alternative to improve germination and establishment of forage legumes with agricultural potential
Keywords:
Cover crop, dormancy, scarification, germination, legumesAbstract
Introduction: Some of the species that make up the legume family are used as animal feed, and additionally, they are an important alternative to improve soil fertility. However, the variety of legumes for use in agriculture and livestock are limited due to the low availability of seeds, to which is added, the low germination percentages in the seeds.
Objective: To determine the effect of liquid nitrogen as a scarification treatment on the seeds of Teramnus labialis (L. f.) Spreng.
Methods: The effects of this scarification treatment were evaluated at the anatomical and physiological level in the seeds during germination and at the morphological level in plants under field conditions.
Results: Dormancy breaking is achieved in 89% of the seeds as a result of the opening of the hilar fissure and the cracking of the seed coat. In addition, vigor during germination and early plant growth was improved. Under field conditions, it was reached 78% of emerged plants and establishment was achieved in four months.
Conclusions: The effectiveness of liquid nitrogen as a scarifying agent in the seeds of Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng, is demonstrated through the increase in germination, emergence and plant vigor. Furthermore, the use of this scarification treatment can be extended to other species of forage legumes with agricultural potential.
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