Page 4 - ผลของระยะเก็บเกี่ยวและการลดความชื้นต่อความงอกและความแข็งแรงของเมล็ดพันธุ์ปอเทือง Effects of Harvest Stages and Dehumidification on Germination and Vigor of Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) Seeds

ห้องสมุดกรมพัฒนาที่ดิน

3

Abstract

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) is a green manure plant that farmers prefer to plant to increase
organic matter in soil. However, now found that Sunn hemp seeds mostly have low germination
percentage result in a low increase in soil organic matter. The objective of this study was to study effect

of harvest stages and suitable dehumidification method on germination and vigor of Sunn hemp seeds.
Experimental area for planting sunn hemp at Moo 8 Tambon Wang Yen, Plaeng Yao District,
Chachoengsao Province in November 2019 – February 2020. Two Stages of Sunn hemp seeds were

harvested including physiological maturity (PM) and harvesting maturity (HM) stage by observing the
characteristics of the seeds and pods. Dehumidify seeds by difference 3 methods including sun-drying,
hot-air oven drying and shade-drying. Then storage the seeds at room temperature for seed quality
testing every 30 days for 1 year such as standard seed germination percentage, field emergence

percentage and germination speed index. Results showed that seed moisture was 42.58% and 16.09%
in PM and HM stage respectively. The seeds size and weight of PM stage was significantly higher than
HM stage. Furthermore, the harvest stage, dehumidification method and storage duration are the factors

that affect seed quality. It reveals that Sunn hemp seeds at HM stage and dehumidify seeds by shade-
drying have the highest quality and the best storage duration for highest seed quality is not more than
90 days after seeds drying. Because it shows high standard germination percentage, field emergence
percentage and germination speed index (8 4 . 5 - 9 0 . 1 7 % , 8 7 . 1 7 - 9 2 . 1 7 % and 1 2 . 5 2 - 13.47

respectively).