Tests of cotton seed treatments for early emergence

Abstract

A series of seed treatment trials was carried out in the laboratory and under field conditions in south-eastern Queensland in an endeavour to stimulate earlier emergence of seedlings under low soil temperatures. While gibberellic acid hastened emergence significantly, it had the undesirable effect of producing a spindly type of plant and reducing total emergence. The investigations confirmed the importance of seed dressing with mercurial
fungicides such as Ceresan dust and liquid Panogen. Early emergence of cotton seeds under low soil temperatures was stimulated by soaking for 12 h in 25 ppm. GA, but total emergence was reduced and spindly plants resulted. Seed dressing with organo-mercury fungicides was more effective in promoting emergence.