Importance of cereal seed testing before sowing in 2020

Abstract

Key findings •Sowing good quality seed, free of fungal pathogens and with high levels of germination and vigour, maximises emergence and early crop growth. •In 2020, 96 sources of grower-retained seed were tested for emergence and vigour before sowing. This was due to concerns around the planting quality older seed retained from the 2018 harvest or earlier, or from drought-affected crops from both 2018 and 2019. •Sixty-three percent of seed lots had adequate emergence for sowing in 2020. Growers of 26% of lots were advised to consider increasing the sowing rate to compensate for lower emergence levels, and 11% of seed tested was unsuitable for sowing with emergence at less than 60%. •The quality of seed at harvest and adequate storage conditions appear to be the important factors in ensuring sowing seed quality is maintained, rather than just the length of storage. •Growers are urged to test the germination and vigour of all sowing seed each season well in advance of sowing to optimise early crop establishment and yield potential.