DAMAGE TO SEEDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21304, 25 March 1939, Page 15

DAMAGE TO SEEDS

MIXING WITH FERTILISER GERMINATION DAMAGED Most farmers know that when small seeds are mixed with superphosphate they should be sown as soon as possible and that seed so mixed should not be allowed to stand overnight otherwise there is every chance of the germination of the seeds being seriously impaired. Mr J. N. Whittet, agristologist of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, asserts that tests recently made by him prove that lucerne and other seeds are detrimentally affected by being mixed with superphosphate prior to sowing. Lucerne in contact with superphos-

phate for 36 to 48 hours was considerably weakened in germination, whereas that left for six days was reduced by 21 per cent. The test was also made with other seeds, among which clover appears to suffer little damage. Perennial rye suffered a loss of germination from 69 to 22 per cent in seven days, and after being kept in contact with superphosphate for 16 days, only 3 per cent germinated. Grass and clover seeds appeared to suffer no damage, he said, from being in contact with nitrogen for similar periods. This suggests that pi sture seeds and superphosphate should be sown separately where possible, especially under dry weather conditions, and, if mixing is essential, that this should take place in the paddock, immediately before sowing. Merino Ewe Fertility rue problem of lack of fertility in Merino ewes has been a very vexed one among breeders and flock owners in Australia for many years, graziers, especially in the hotter areas, declaring that it is becoming worse. Investigations now being made by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research on behalf of the Australian Wool Board suggest that the cause my be much simpler than is generally supposed. It would appear, the council states, that, at least under the conditions at the McMaster field station, at St. Mary’s, and contrary to a widely-held opinion, the Merino ewe will not mate at any period of the year, but has a definite offseason, which usually occurs during the spring and early summer months. It is suggested that much of the alleged infertility of the Merino may be due to faulty timing of the mating period in relation to this off-season.