Effects of Pre-Sowing Treatments of Seeds on the Germination and Establishment of Parsnips

SummarySowing parsnip seeds ‘primed’ in salts (KNO3+K3PO4Hc2O) or polyethylene glycol solutions gave, on average, 1.8 days earlier seedling emergence than from untreated seeds. Sowing seeds subjected to different numbers and lengths of cycles of wetting and drying (‘hardening’) advanced seedling emergence by a similar amount. However, the earlier emergence from these seed treatments was small compared with that obtained by fluid-sowing pre-germinated seeds which advanced emergence by c. 4-0 days. Sowing pre-germinated seeds also increased the final percentage emergence by c. 60% compared with untreated, hardened and primed seeds, and at an early sowing reduced the spread of emergence.