Increasing seed moisture has been beneficial in improving seedling emergence of some crops. Seed moisture contents of three cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes (MN13, Pinkeye Purple Hull, and IT 82E-16) and two pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) (ICPL 85024 and ICPL 8304) were modified by incubating a 10 seed: 4 celite: 13 water (by weight) mixture at 15C. Conditioned seeds had moisture contents ranging from 46% to 64%, while nontreated seeds ranged from 4% to 8%. Matriconditioned and nontreated seeds had <15% emergence at 28 days after planting (DAP) in dry field conditions, where precipitation was <41 mm. In greenhouse tests at 14 DAP, matriconditioning had a negative effect on seeds in flooded, moist, and dry soils. The percent emergence for these seeds was 40% when compared to 60% for nontreated ones. Conditioning did not affect percent emergence at 7 DAP, days to first emergence, and percentage of germinated, unemerged seeds at 14 DAP. In the dry soil, emergence was less and later, and more germinated, unemerged seeds were present at 14 DAP. Cowpeas averaged 56% germination and pigeonpeas were 27%.
Determination of soil moisture by neutron scattering.
