If your crops were exposed to rain during last year’s harvest, especially new varieties of malting barley, you may want to have the seed germinability tested. Barley growers in some parts of  the region are reporting germination rates as low as 10% in self-stored seed grain, though figures of 30 and 40% are more common.

The low germination rates being reported by some SA growers may be due to the effect of rain during harvest, however, a variety of other factors including the cut-off to the season, damage during harvest, chemical damage and less than ideal storage conditions could all be contributing to the phenomenon.

Using poor quality grain for seed can have detrimental effects on crop establishment and production due to:

• Reduced germination percentage and seedling vigour
• Increased time of germination
• Increased susceptibility to some diseases
• Seedlings more susceptible to herbicide damage and/or insect attack

The importance of a healthy fertile seed is even greater due to the prevalence of rhizoctonia across most of the state. Good fertile seed gives the crop the best chance for a quick early germination and more rapid root growth. This means that plant roots can push through the rhizoctonia zone faster and be less affected by the disease.

It is recommended that if you stored barley, and other crop seed from last season for use as seed, to have germination tests carried out to ensure it is suitable for use. New seed may need to be obtained or sowing rates adjusted to ensure there are an adequate number of plants per m2.

If you need to test seed immediately a quick DIY test requires placing 100 or 200 seeds on moistened cotton wool (remember to keep the wool moist). After a few days the number of seeds that have germinated will give you an idea of the germination rate. E.g. if 20 seeds out of 100 germinate your germination percentage is 20%.

A germination rate of about 80% is about the cut-off point for grain intended for seed. The minimum national standard for quality-assured barley seed is 85% germination.

If you want more accurate results and you have a bit more time up your sleeve, Rural Solutions SA’s analytical laboratory Seed Services Australia provides a range of cost-competitive seed tests to establish seed quality parameters including germination percentage, purity analysis, and weed seed content. For more information on the seed tests available contact Seed Services Australia on 8303 9549.  There is information on how to take a seed sample in the seed testing section of the Seed Services Australia website, just go to www.ruralsolutions.sa.gov.au/seeds.

AUTHOR: Leah Feuerherdt, Resource Protection and Development, Rural Solutions SA
CONTACT: Leah Feuerherdt, PIRSA/ Rural Solutions Clare Office, Telephone; 08 8842 6222