Effect of method of harvesting, storage container type and duration on seed germination of four rangeland grasses

Abstract

The study tested 2 techniques of harvesting pasture grass seed (hand stripping and cutting with stalks), 4 storage containers (Aluminium tins, Polythene, Cotton cloth and brown paper bags), and 10 post harvest periods of storage (0-72 weeks) of four species seed lots harvested in two different seasons during 2001-2002 at Kiboko, Kenya. The species were C. roxburghiana, C. ciliaris, E. superba and E. macrostachyus and seeds were stored from 0 to 72 weeks post harvest. The Germination (percentage) test using caryopses extracted with sandpaper and placed in covered Petri dishes lined with moist filter paper was used for duration of 14 days. The overall mean daily germination (percentage) was 3.61+ 0.060, ranging from 2.5percentage for C. ciliaris to 6.4percentage for E. macrostachyus. Harvesting by cutting with stalks resulted in superior seeds than by stripping them. Seeds stored in aluminium tins germinated better than those in plastic, cloth or brown paper bags. Seeds stored for less than eight weeks had lower germination percentage which then increased with storage.