How do you measure seed germination rate?

Answer 1

Equipment

To conduct this test you will need the following:

· Waterproof tray. A flat-sided water bottle cut in half lengthwise makes a good tray.

· Water absorbent material. Tissues or cotton wool are ideal.

· Seeds.

· Water supply.

Procedure

· Place water absorbent material inside the waterproof tray

· Take random sample from each seed lot and mix in a container

· Take at least three seed samples from the mixed grain

· Count out 100 seeds from each sample and place on absorbent material inside the tray

· Carefully saturate the absorbent material

· For each of ten [10] days check that absorbent material remains moist and record the number of germinated seeds

· Compute germination test for five [5] days and for ten [10] days

The rate of germination is an indicator of vigor. Rapid seed germination increases the chance that seed will establish in the field.

Calculating the germination rate

Germination rate is the average number of seeds that germinate over the five and ten day periods.

Germination (%) = Number of seeds germinated x 100

Number of seeds on tray

For example, If 86 seeds germinated in a tray of 100 seeds after 10 days, then

For more information contact

Agricultural Engineering Unit

IRRI, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel.: (63-2) 580-5600, Fax.: (63-2) 580-5699

email: M.Gummert@cgiar.org

J.Rickman@cgiar.org

IRRI International Rice Research Institute

10-day germination (%) = 86 x 100 = 86%

100