{"id":45619,"date":"2022-05-02T12:14:07","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T12:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=43084"},"modified":"2023-06-21T08:02:37","modified_gmt":"2023-06-21T08:02:37","slug":"seeding-and-crop-emergence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metos.global\/en\/seeding-and-crop-emergence\/","title":{"rendered":"Soil Temperatures & Moisture for Seeding and Crop Emergence: Early Versus Late"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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General Factors Impacting Seeding and Germination<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The important point to remember is not how early the seed should be in the ground, but what can be done to get it out of the ground as soon as possible, so that the plant is growing healthy.<\/p>

\"Germination_cover\"<\/a><\/p>

\u00a0<\/h4>

SOIL TEMPERATURE<\/h3>

The most critical factor is soil temperature. Soil temperature\u00a0drives all metabolic processes<\/strong>\u00a0and although many of the other factors such as moisture, aeration, nutrition and depth are also important, they do not begin to influence the seed until it\u2019s warm enough to start all the biochemical processes of\u00a0seed germination: >4\u00b0C to 6\u00b0C is preferred for cereal and oilseeds<\/strong>.<\/p>

SOIL MOISTURE<\/h3>

Soil moisture affects how quickly water penetrates the seed. Seeds require a percentage of moisture by their weight before germination takes place. Having adequate moisture in terms of stored soil water and early spring precipitation plays a large role in successful and rapid germination, at the correct temperature. Dependent on soil type: e.g. >25-30% VWC<\/strong>.<\/p>

FERTILIZER RATES<\/h3>

The amount of water available for germination\u00a0is affected by the type, amount and placement of fertilizer<\/strong>. Fertilizers placed very close to or with the seed will reduce the amount of moisture available for seed germination because these fertilizers end up using some of the available moisture to dissolve the fertilizer and bring it into solution.<\/p>

DEPTH OF PLACEMENT<\/h3>

Seeding depth is the next factor that\u2019s important in rapid and even germination. Soil moisture, soil temperature, soil type, trash cover, and others, all affect seed depth each year. Depth will vary based on soil temperature and moisture \u2013 shallow with cold, wet soils. Deeper with dry and warm soils.\u00a0Generally, 3.5 to 7.5 cm<\/strong>.<\/p>

SPRING SPRAYING<\/h3>

Pre-seeding spraying is very important. Weeds that emerge before the crop, will\u00a0out-compete the crop for moisture, nutrients and sunlight<\/strong>. Just a small number of weeds, a few per square foot, emerging before or with the crop can be much more damaging to yield potential than a larger number of weeds developing later.<\/p>

\"seeding\"<\/a><\/p>

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Factors Affecting the Early Versus Late Approach<\/h3>

Seeding in Western Canada can range from April through May and sometimes into early June, if flooding occurs. In Europe, seeding and sowing can range from March to late June and are highly dependent on climatic conditions from country to country, crop to crop.<\/p>

What is too early or too late for crop development and ultimately yield?<\/strong><\/p>

Fundamentally, seeding into warm soils ensures the best start for the crop. Proper germination and crop emergence is an important step for reaching the crop\u2019s yield potential.<\/p>

There is plenty of evidence that shows seeding early (in April) will produce the best yields, but this is\u00a0very much dependent on soil temperature and crop type<\/strong>.<\/p>

Benefits include:<\/p>