Effect of Sulfuric Acid and Potassium Nitrate on Germination of Creeping Signal Grass Seed (<I>Brachiaria humidicola</I> (Rendle) Schweick.)

Abstract

The effect of sulfuric acid on seed soaking for 2 to 10 minutes was studied on the viability of creeping signal grass. It was found that sulfuric acid at the concentration of 98% did not affect the seed viability as tested by Tetrazolium method. Soaking the seed in 98% H₂SO₄ for 10, 15 and 20 minutes before soaking the seed in KNO₃ at 2, 6 and 10 percents for 4 hours and then washed the seed in water for 13 hours, showed that, 20 minutes soaking H₂SO₄, gave the percentage of germination higher than soaking for 10 and 15 minutes. Wheras 6% KNO₃ gave the percentage of germination higher than 2 or 10%. Since the interaction of H₂SO₄ and KNO₃ was found, the effect of KNO₃ can be seen when the time of H₂ SO₄ soaking was 20 minutes. Soaking the seeds in H₂ SO₄ for 20 minutes in addition to KNO₃ either 6 or 2% gave the highest percentage of germination, which were 20 times higher than the untreated control.