Soak seeds of non-woody plants before sowing: freshwater wetlands
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Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
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Number of studies: 1
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A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2015 in a greenhouse in Utah, USA (Marty & Kettenring 2017) found that soaking seeds of three bulrush species in water typically had no significant effect on their germination rate. Seeds that had been soaked before sowing had statistically similar germination rate in 24 of 30 comparisons (for which soaked: 6–88%; unsoaked: 1–75%). In the other six comparisons, soaked seeds had a higher germination rate (18–69%) than unsoaked seeds (4–50%). Five of these comparisons involved seeds whose dormancy had previously been broken through chilling and/or chemical treatments. Methods: Field-collected seeds of three bulrush species were sown onto sand in the greenhouse (36–72 sets of seeds/species; ≥100 seeds/set). Seeds in 18–36 random sets/species were soaked for two weeks before planting (in deionized water, changed every three days, 28–35°C). The other sets were kept dry. Some sets were also chilled and/or soaked in chemicals before soaking in water. After sowing, seeds were kept saturated. Germination rates for each set were recorded five weeks after sowing.
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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:
Marsh and Swamp Conservation
Marsh and Swamp Conservation - Published 2021
Marsh and Swamp Synopsis