Effect of the soil water content on emergency and development of rice seedlings.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil water content on emergency and development of rice seedlings. The experiments were carried out at the Seed Laboratory at the Federal University of Lavras. Statistical analyses were performed using a randomized block design with three replications in a split plot design. The main plot consisted of four different soil water contents: 95%; 75%; 60%, and 45% of saturation, while the sub plots consisted of rice cultivars: Carisma, Primavera, Caiapó, Liderança, and Curinga. Seeds were sown in trays and kept in growth chamber. The studied variables were seedling emergency speed index, stand at 21days, height and dry weight of the aerial part. The results showed that higher percentage and speed of seedling emergency were observed in soils with moisture content varying from 75% to 60%. Soil with moisture content of 95% presented a decrease in germination for the cultivars Primavera, Carisma, and Curinga. A decrease in seedling emergency speed index was also observed for all cultivars studied. Height and dry weight of the aerial part of rice seedlings were not affected by soil moisture content.