Effects of chemical seed treatment upon seed germination and stand establishment of forage crops and
also upon nodulation of leguminous plants
by Daniel A Niffenegger
A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Master of Science in Agronomy
Montana State University
© Copyright by Daniel A Niffenegger (1957)
Abstract:
Three seed treating compounds—Arasan, Spergon, and Pittsburgh B-856—were compared in field and
laboratory tests for the treatment of forage crops grown in Montana. Seedling emergence of alfalfa and
crested wheatgrass was increased more by treatment with Arasan and Pittsburgh B-856 than by
Spergon treatment;when rate of treatment was the same for all three chemicals. Response to treatment
was greatest in cold, wet soil. An indication was found that excess Spergon may reduce blotter test
germination results of certain crops. A corresponding reduction of germination of excess
Spergon-treated seed in soil tests was not detected. Spergon adhered to seeds better than Pittsburgh
B-856, and Pittsburgh B-856 adhered better than Arasan when an excess of chemical was applied. The
ratio was approximately 5 : 3 : 1. Seed treatment with the three chemicals applied 1 year ahead of
planting did not lower seed viability or reduce fungicidal effectiveness. Nodulation was the same on
roots of alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil when seed was both chemically treated and Rhizobium inoculated
as when it was inoculated but not treated. In agar colony count tests, Pittsburgh B-856 was the most
toxic to birdsfoot trefoil Rhizobium, and Spergon was the least toxic. The crop previously grown in soil
appeared to affect the emergence of alfalfa and crested wheatgrass. Temperature and moisture level
influenced the apparent effect of previous cropping. Chemical seed treatment increased emergence of
alfalfa in all soils but did not overcome the apparent effect of previous cropping. Twenty crop species
all responded favorably to seed treatment with Pittsburgh B-856 when grown in cold, wet soil. E f f e c t s o f Chemical Seed Treatment Upon Seed G erm ination
and Stand E s ta b lis h m e n t o f Forage Crops and Also Upon
Modulation o f Leguminous P la n ts
by
DANIEL A. NIFFENEGGER
A THESIS
Submitted t o the Graduate F a c u lty
in
p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t of th e re q u ire m e n ts
f o r the degree of
Master o f Science in Agronomy
at
Montana S ta te C ollege
Approved:
^
.W
•
Head, Major Department
ChairmaM ,Examining Committee
Dean, Graduate D iv is io n
Bozeman, Montana
J u n e , 1957
N51?
- 2 -
%-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The w r i t e r w ishes t o acknowledge the a d v ic e , c o n s tr u c ti v e c r i t i c i s m
and encouragement given him by Mr. R obert F. E s lic k du rin g the course of
t h i s study and the w r iti n g o f th e t h e s i s .
The a u th o r a l s o w ishes t o acknowledge th e advice and a s s i s t a n c e
g iven him by Mr. D. J . D av is, and the h e lp w ith the b a c t e r i o l o g i c a l
s tu d y g iven by Dr. K. L. Temple.
F u r th e r acknowledgment i s due t o Dr. M. M. A fa n asie v , Dr. R. H.
McBee, Dr. J . C. Hide, and o th e r s who c o n tr ib u te d time and advice to the
p ro je c t.
123692
- 3 -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
LISTING OF TABLES...............
4
LISTING OF FIGURES........................................................................................
5
ABSTRACT....... ....................... ..................... ........................................ .................
6
INTRODUCTION......................................
7
LITERATURE R E V IE W .............. ............................................
10
MATERIALS AND M E T H O D S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............
15
A.
F i e l d T e s t s . ......... ............ .......................................................... 15
B.
L a b o ra to ry S o il T e s t s .............................................................. 16
C.
L a b o ra to ry B l o t t e r T e s t s . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
D.
L a b o ra to ry Agar P la te T e s t s .................... .....................
19
RESULTS.................. . . . . I . ...................................... .........................................
Comparison o f C h e m ic a ls .
.................... .................
21
21
The E f f e c t o f Excess Chemical T r e a tm e n t.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24
Time o f T r e a tm e n t.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v . ...............................
35
C o m p a tib ility of Chemical Fungicide w ith R h iz o b iu m .... 36
E f f e c t o f P rev io u s Cropping H is to ry o f S o i l . . . . . . . . . . .
43
The E f f e c t o f Treatm ent on D i f f e r e n t Crop S p e c i e s . . . . . 49
DISCUSSION........... .............. ............................................... ................................ 54
SUMMARY......... ............ ' . . ...................................................................................... 57
LITERATURE CITED......... ................................................... ,............
59
- 4 -
LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table I .
TABLE I I .
TABLE I I I .
TABLE IV.
TABLE V.
TABLE VI.
TABLE V II.
TABLE V I I I .
TABLE IX.
TABLE X.
TABLE XI.
TABLE X II.
TABLE X I I I .
E f f e c t o f chemical seed tr e a tm e n t on g e rm in a tio n ,
emergence, and stan d e s t a b l i s h m e n t . ........................ ..
A n a ly sis of. v a ria n c e of p e rc e n t chemical ad h erin g
t o seed when a p p lie d in e x c e s s , based on u n tr e a te d
seed w eig h t ( t e s t 1 5 ) . ........................ ................. ..
Mean p e r c e n t o f chemical ad h erin g t o seed when ap­
p l i e d i n e x c e s s , based on u n tr e a te d seed w eight
( tS St 1 5 ) . . oooo.ee. . . . . . . e e e e e e e .e o e .e e .'. . . . . . . . . . . .
Mean g e rm in a tio n p e rc en ta g e o f 3 r e p l i c a t i o n s of ■
4 l o t s o f 6 crops t e s t e d on b l o t t e r s a t 5 m oisture
l e v e l s ( t e s t 1 4 ) . ................. ..
A n a ly s is o f v a ria n c e o f g e rm in a tio n p erc en ta g e of
3 r e p l i c a t i o n s o f 4 l o t s o f 6 cro p s t e s t e d on
b l o t t e r s a t 5 m o istu re l e v e l s ( t e s t 1 4 ) . . . . . . . . . ; .
The mean p e rc e n t g e rm in a tio n of 4 and 5 crops
r e s p e c t i v e l y in t e s t s 10 and 11 when t r e a t e d . a t
2 r a t e s o f chemical and germ inated on b l o t t e r s
a t 2 m o istu re l e v e l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A n a ly s is of v a ria n c e o f t e s t s o f ch em ica lly t r e a t e d
see d , conducted in th e c r i t i c a l m oisture range f o r
g e rm in a tio n ( t e s t s 10 and 1 1) . ......... ................................
Average p e r c e n t emergence o f ch em ica lly t r e a t e d
and u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a and c r e s te d w h e a t g r a s s , , ,
p la n te d in wet and d ry s o i l in th e la b o r a to r y
( t e s t s 9 and 1 3 ) . .................... ............................................... ..
A n a ly s is o f v a ria n c e o f la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t o f
a l f a l f a and c r e s te d w h e atg rass s e e d lin g emergence
( t e St 9)eee . . . o . e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . oeoe.ee e'eo. . . . . . .
E f f e c t of le n g th o f time e la p s in g between chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t and p la n t i n g on g e rm in a tio n and
emergence.......................................... .............................................
The e f f e c t of in o c u l a t i o n w ith Rhizobium of chem­
i c a l l y t r e a t e d seed on th e emergence of a l f a l f a
in 1955 f i e l d t e s t s ( t e s t l ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mean v a lu e s f o r b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l e s ta b lis h m e n t,
m a t u r i t y , and n o d u la tio n in f i e l d t e s t s of
in o c u la te d and ch em ica lly t r e a t e d seed ( t e s t 4 ) . . .
A n a ly s is o f v a ria n c e o f th e e f f e c t o f Rhizobium
in o c u l a t i o n and chemical seed tr e a tm e n t on f i e l d
s ta n d , n o d u la tio n s c o r e , and p e r c e n t p l a n t s in
flo w er o f b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l ( t e s t 4
.
23
25
26
28
29 •
31
32
33
34
37
38
39
40
- 5 Page
TABLE XIV.
Colony co u n ts o f Rhizobium on a g ar p l a t e s when
exposed f o r v a ry in g p e rio d s o f time t o 3 chem icals
and a c o n tr o l t r e a tm e n t. I e • o c • e o I • • e e e o e e o e e d o o e e e e e e
^
TABLE XV.
The e f f e c t o f Arasan seed tr e a tm e n t on emergence of
a l f a l f a and c r e s te d w h e atg rass grown in s o i l $ _ g f 5
p re v io u s cropping b i s t o r i e s in 1955 and 1956 f i e l d
t e s t s . .................... ....
............. ..............................
44
TABLE XVI.
Mean p e rc e n t emergence in la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s of
ch em ica lly t r e a t e d and u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a . a n d c r e s te d
w h e a tg ra ss in s o i l s of 5 p re v io u s cropping h i s t o r i e s
( t e s t s By 9 , and 1 3 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
TABLE XVII. A n a ly sis of v a ria n c e o f P it ts b u r g h B-856 t r e a t e d and
u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a emergence in la b o r a to r y s o i l t e s t s
which compared 5 p re v io u s cropping h i s t o r i e s o f s o i l ,
2 m o istu re l e v e l s , and 2 te m p e ra tu re s ( t e s t 1 3 ) . . . . . 46
TABLE XVIII. The e f f e c t o f te m p e ratu re on emergence o f chem­
i c a l l y t r e a t e d and u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a seed p la n te d
in th e l a b o r a t o r y in s o i l s of. 5 p re v io u s cropping
h i s t o r i e s ( t e s t s 8 and 1 3 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
TABLE XIX.
P e rc e n t emergence o f 10 g r a s s e s and 10 legumes
t r e a t e d w ith d i f f e r e n t seed t r e a t i n g compounds
and t e s t e d in th e f i e l d and l a b o r a t o r y , . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
TABLE XX.
P e rc e n t normal s p r o u ts in s ta n d a rd la b o r a to r y
g e rm in a tio n t e s t s o f 20 crop s p e c ie s ch em ica lly
t r e a t e d w ith d i f f e r e n t seed t r e a t i n g compounds........... 51
TABLE XXI.
The mean p e r c e n t g e rm in a tio n o f 4 and 5 crops
r e s p e c t i v e l y in t e s t s 10 and 11 when t r e a t e d
w ith 4 chem icals and germ inated on b l o t t e r s a t
2 m o istu re l e v e l s . • e e o e o e e e e o e e e o o e e e e e i
9 9 0 O « O O O O » 0
LIST OF FIGURES
F ig u re I .
Method of p l a n t i n g la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s a t
fie ld c a p a c ity .... o o o o e o o o o o e o o 1
i e e » e o o e e e
e e e 0 e o o 9
17
—6 ■
ABSTRACT
T h re e .s e e d t r e a t i n g compounds—A rasan s. .Spergon, and. P it ts b u r g h
B-856—were compared in f i e l d . a n d . . l a b o r a t o r y te .s ts fo r th e ..tre a tm e n t of.
fo rag e cro p s grown in Montana. S ee d lin g emergence o f a l f a l f a and
c re s te d " w h e a tg ra s s was in c re a s e d more by tr e a tm e n t w ith Arasan and P i t t s ­
burgh B-856 th a n by Spergon treatm en t;w h en r a t e of tr e a tm e n t was the
same fo r a l l th r e e c h em ica ls. Response t o tr e a tm e n t was g r e a t e s t in
c o ld , wet s o i l . An i n d ic a tio n .w a s found t h a t e x cess Spergon may reduce
b l o t t e r t e s t g e rm in a tio n r e s u l t s o f c e r t a i n c ro p s. A c o rresp o n d in g
r e d u c tio n o f g e rm in a tio n o f e x c e ss Spergo n - t r e a t e d seed in s o i l t e s t s
was n o t d e t e c t e d . Spergon adhered t o seeds b e t t e r th a n P it ts b u r g h B-856,
and P it ts b u r g h B-856 a d h e r e d ; b e t t e r than.. Arasan when an e x ce ss of chem­
i c a l was a p p lie d . The r a t i o was ap p ro x im ately 5 $ 3 $. I . Seed t r e a t ­
ment w ith th e th r e e chem icals a p p lie d I y e a r ahead o f p la n t i n g d id not
lower seed v i a b i l i t y or reduce f u n g ic id a l e f f e c t i v e n e s s . N odulation
was the same on r o o t s o f a l f a l f a and b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l when seed was
both ch em ica lly t r e a t e d and Rhizobium in o c u la te d as when i t was inocu­
l a t e d but. n o t t r e a t e d . In ag ar colony count . t e s t s , P itts b u r g h B-856
was th e most t o x i c t o b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l Rhizobium, and Spergon w as.th e
l e a s t t o x i c . The crop p r e v i o u s l y grow n.in s o i l appeared t o a f f e c t the
emergence of a l f a l f a and c r e s t e d w h e a tg ra s s. Temperature a n d .m o istu re
l e v e l in flu e n c e d the a p p a re n t e f f e c t of p re v io u s cro p p in g . Chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t in c re a s e d emergence of a l f a l f a in a l l s o i l s b u t did no t
overcome th e a p p a re n t e f f e c t o f p re v io u s cro p p in g . Twenty crop s p e c ie s
a l l responded f a v o r a b ly t o seed tre a tm e n t w ith P it ts b u r g h B-856 when
grown in c o ld , wet s o i l .
- I INTRODUCTION
The e f f e c t s o f chemical tr e a tm e n t o f seed of forage cro p s on germin­
a t i o n and stan d e s ta b lis h m e n t have c re a te d growing i n t e r e s t in re c e n t
years.
E f f e c t s o f tr e a tm e n t have ranged from d e c re a s e s in s ta n d and
y i e l d t o la r g e in c r e a s e s in v a r io u s tr e a tm e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n s .
Most of
th e s e s t u d i e s have been conducted in r e g io n s having lo n g e r growing sea­
so n s, more r a i n f a l l , l e s s severe w i n t e r s , and o th e r c l i m a t i c c o n d itio n s
n o t common t o Montana.
C hem ically t r e a t e d fo rag e crop seed i s being so ld in Montana.
A
main s e l l i n g p o in t o f one o f th e le a d in g a l f a l f a seed bran d s i s t h a t i t
i s c h e m ic a lly t r e a t e d .
G en eral i n q u i r i e s c o n c e rn in g ,fo ra g e crop seed
t r e a t m e n t Jhave been r e c e iv e d a t the Montana A g r i c u l t u r a l Experiment S ta ­
tio n .
Answers t o some o f th e s e i n q u i r i e s are n o t r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e .
These f a c t s i n d i c a t e a need f o r knowing what e f f e c t s may be expected when
c h em ica lly t r e a t e d fo rag e crop seed i s p la n te d in Montana.
The o b j e c t i v e s o f t h i s stu d y were t o determ ine th e e f f e c t s o f chem­
i c a l seed; tr e a tm e n t upon g e rm in a tio n and emergence o f see d s in the la b ­
o r a t o r y , upon emergence and stan d e s ta b lis h m e n t of fo rag e crops in the
f i e l d , and upon th e n o d u la tio n o f legumes.
Since l i m i t e d m o istu re c o n d itio n s are o f te n enco u n tered in Montana
crop producing a r e a s , i t i s im p o rtan t t o know what e f f e c t chemical seed
tr e a tm e n t may have on g e rm in a tio n when m o istu re i s l i m i t e d .
T e s ts on
b l o t t e r s and in s o i l were conducted in th e la b o r a to r y t o i n v e s t i g a t e
T 8 —
t h i s problem,
. . . . .
:
.
One o f th e f u n c tio n s o f a seed la b o r a t o r y i s t o t e s t seed fo r g e r­
m in a tio n ,
tio n ,
Seeding r a t e si are based p a r t l y on th e r e p o r te d seed germina­
Any in f lu e n c e t h a t tr e a tm e n t may have on g e rm in a tio n should be
re c o g n iz e d so t h a t seed in g r a t e s can be p r o p e r ly a d ju s t e d .
Emergence, o f ch em ica lly t r e a t e d seed was s tu d ie d in f i e l d and la b ­
o rato ry s o il t e s t s .
The' f i n a l i n d i c a t i o n o f the v alu e o f t r e a t i n g seed
t o be p la n te d in the f i e l d w i l l be in th e form of b e n e f i t s observed
under f i e l d c o n d itio n s .
B ut, s in c e tem p e ratu re and m o istu re c o n d itio n s
cannot be c o n t r o l l e d in th e f i e l d , i t might ta k e many y e ars o f f i e l d
t e s t i n g t o draw any d e f i n i t e c o n c lu s io n s .
t e s t s were
T h e re fo re , la b o r a to r y s o i l
made under c o n t r o l l e d m oisture and tem p eratu re c o n d itio n s t o
supplement f i e l d t e s t s .
I n s t a n c e s have been observed where a l f a l f a seeded in a l f a l f a s tu b b le
f a i l e d t o produce a stand..
Other crops fo llo w in g s p e c i f i c crops may show
th e same d e tr im e n ta l re s p o n s e .
In t h i s s tu d y , f i e l d and la b o r a to r y s o i l
t e s t s were conducted t o f in d more evidence o f the n a tu re of t h i s e f f e c t
and t o determ ine i f chemical seed tr e a tm e n t w i l l c o r r e c t th e s i t u a t i o n .
Some legume seed must-be in o c u la te d w ith Rhizobium b a c t e r i a i f
no d u les are t o form on r o o t s .
Chemical seed tre a tm e n t k i l l s d is e a s e
organisms l i v i n g c lo se t o th e seed.
The q u e s tio n a r i s e s as t o whether
th e chemical w i l l a l s o k i l l b a c t e r i a in o c u la te d on the seed , le a d in g to
i n s u f f i c i e n t n o d u la tio n ,
This problem was i n v e s t i g a t e d in f i e l d e x p e r i­
ments w ith a l f a l f a and b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l .
F ie ld t e s t s were supplemented
- 9 -
by l a b o r a t o r y ag ar p l a t e t e s t s , p la c in g Rhizobium and chemical in con­
t a c t in ap p ro x im a te ly th e same r a t i o th e y would be i f both were a p p lie d
t o seed a t r a t e s recommended by the m a n u fa c tu re rs.
Many d i f f e r e n t crop s p e c ie s are grown in Montana.
seed t r e a t i n g chem icals are a v a i l a b l e .
,
Many d i f f e r e n t
To determ ine th e e f f e c t of d i f ­
f e r e n t chem icals on d i f f e r e n t crop s p e c i e s , th e e f f e c t of chemical t r e a t ­
ment w ith 3 fu n g ic id e s on 20 d i f f e r e n t crop s p e c ie s was i n v e s t i g a t e d in
th e f i e l d and la b o r a t o r y .
/
— 10 —
LITERATURE REVIEW .
Chemical seed tr e a tm e n t o f small g r a in s h a s become alm ost s ta n d a rd
procedure in Montana,
The e x t e n t o f i t s acceptance, i s evidenced by the
f a c t t h a t over 97 p e rc e n t o f a l l small g r a i n samples c o l l e c t e d in a 1956
d r i l l box survey ( 1 6 ) 1 / were c h em ica lly
tre a te d .
In r e c e n t y e a rs th e r e h as been growing i n t e r e s t ih chemical seed
tr e a tm e n t o f g r a s s e s and sm all-see d ed legumes.
d u c ted have been c o n t r a d i c t o r y ,
R e s u lts p f t e s t s con­
K re itlo w e t a l , ( i p ) found response
from c h e m ic a lly t r e a t e d seed o f a l f a l f a and re d c lo v e r t o v ary from de­
c r e a s e s t o h ig h l y s i g n i f i c a n t in c r e a s e s in s ta n d ,
Raeder (13) t e s t e d
s e v e r a l s p e c ie s o f fo rag e g r a s s e s and sm all^seeded legumes t r e a t e d w ith
Spergon9. A ra sa n 9 and New Improved G eresan,
treatm en t.
He found no b e n e f i t from
H is d a ta a l s o showed t h a t t r e a t i n g seed o f low g erm in atin g
c a p a c ity was no more b e n e f i c i a l th a n t r e a t i n g seed o f high g erm in atin g
c a p a c ity .
O ther workers ( l , 6 , 7) found only o c c a s io n a l b e n e f i t s from
tr e a t m e n t .
In d ry s o i l in th e green h o u se, Gerdemann ( 6 ) o b ta in e d de­
c re a s e d emergence from c h e m ic a lly t r e a t e d seed.
In o th e r s t u d i e s , tr e a tm e n t h a s appeared t o be a p r o f i t a b l e p r a c t i c e .
On th e b a s i s o f e x p e rim e n ta l r e s u l t s o f t e s t s in M innesota9 Kernkamp (9 )
recommended t h a t a l f a l f a seed t o be p la n te d in Minnesota should be t r e a t ­
ed w ith Arasan or Spergon.
I/
Numbers in p a re n th e s e s r e f e r t o l i t e r a t u r e c i t e d .
—1 1 —
;
'
He showed tr e a tm e n t t o in c r e a s e stand when seed was p la n te d in s o i l in ­
f e s t e d w ith R h iz o cto n ia s o l a n i . or when m e ch a n ic ally i n ju r e d seed was
used.
He a l s o showed t h a t resp o n se from tr e a tm e n t in c re a s e d as p la n tin g
dep th i n c r e a s e d .
V l i t o s and P re s to n ( l 8 ) s in Oklahoma, o b ta in e d i n ­
c re a se d s ta n d s from chemical seed tr e a tm e n t w ith c e r t a i n ch em ica ls.
The f u n g i c i d a l v a lu e of chem icals h as in some c ase s been o f f s e t by
a harm ful e f f e c t t o th e seed.
A llis o n and T o r rie ( l ) found t h a t , f o l ­
lowing tr e a tm e n t w ith a p p ro x im a te ly a I p e r c e n t dosage o f Spergon, la d in o
c lo v e r and s tra w b e rr y c lo v e r seed g e rm in a tio n on n u t r i e n t a g ar was r e ­
ta r d e d b u t n o t reduced in t o t a l .
G erm ination o f seed of o th e r legumes
in c lu d in g a l f a l f a , s w e e tc lo v e r , re d c l o v e r , and a l s i k e c l o v e r , was not
re ta rd e d .
Arasan and New Improved Ceresan produced no e f f e c t on any of
th e legumes t e s t e d .
In greenhouse t e s t s , . S p e rg o n -tre a te d la d in o c lo v e r
and s tra w b e rr y c lo v e r seed g e rm in a tio n was r e ta r d e d and t o t a l emergence
was d e c r e a s e d .
The r e t a r d i n g a c t i o n was a l s o observed in the,, f i e l d .
F o rsy th and S c h u ster (5 ) r e p o r te d fo rm a tio n of abnormal le a v e s on fla x
s e e d lin g s grown from S p e r g o n - tr e a te d seed in n u rs e ry p l a n t i n g s .
As the
r a t e o f tr e a tm e n t i n c r e a s e d , frequency and degree o f a b n o rm a lity in
le a v e s i n c r e a s e d .
A bnorm ality appeared t o be outgrown and th e r e was no
e f f e c t on f i n a l growth and y i e l d of the p l a n t s .
C h ilto n and G arber (4)
t e s t e d 17 s p e c ie s o f forage legumes in f l a t s tif u n s t e r i l i z e d s o i l .
They
found t h a t s e v e r i t y o f s o i l i n f e s t a t i o n had an e f f e c t on th e chemical
dosage n e c e s s a ry f o r maximum s ta n d s , and, in some c a s e s , th e y found t h a t
th e h i g h e s t s ta n d s o c cu rred where th e r e was some s tu n tin g due t o
- 12-
chemical to x i c i t y , .
Of i n t e r e s t t o seedsmen i s th e q u e s tio n of how long a
e la p s e between tr e a tm e n t o f seed and p l a n t i n g ,
time may
K reitlo w e t a l , (10)
showed t h a t t r e a t e d a l f a l f a , re d c lo v e r , and la d in o c lo v e r seed s to re d
30 months under fa v o ra b le c o n d itio n s showed no i n j u r y from Arasan or
Spergon.
They d id n o t show, however, w hether the fu n g ic id e was s t i l l
e f f e c t i v e a f t e r t h i s p e rio d o f tim e .
This a s p e c t of the problem has
been i n v e s t i g a t e d in t h i s s tu d y .
The degree o f c o m p a t i b i l i t y between Rhizobium legume Inoculum and
seed t r e a t i n g chem icals h a s been i n v e s t i g a t e d by a number of w orkers.
In 1936, B uchholtz (3 ) r e p o r te d t h a t n odules were found on th e r o o ts of
p l a n t s o f s e v e r a l legumes grown from both t r e a t e d and in o c u la te d seed.
In 1944, A l l i s o n and T o r rie ( l ) found no i n h i b i t i o n o f n o d u la tio n due t o
chemical tr e a t m e n t .
Kernkamp ( 8 ) showed in 1948 t h a t soybean seed t r e a t ­
ment w ith Spergon, New Improved G eresan, or Semesan J r . d id n o t a f f e c t
n o d u la tio n or y i e l d .
He concluded, in agreement w ith o th e r w o rk ers,
t h a t n o d u la tio n i s n o t a f f e c t e d by seed tr e a tm e n t or in o c u l a t i o n when
seed i s p la n te d in s o i l where the nodule b a c t e r i a are a lr e a d y p r e s e n t.
L a te r ex p erim en ts by Kernkamp (9 ) showed t h a t th e same p r i n c i p l e ap­
p l i e d t o o th e r legumes.
V l i t o s and P r e s to n (.18) found no i n d i c a t i o n
t h a t chemical tr e a tm e n t i n h i b i t e d nodule fo rm atio n . In f a c t , th e y found
t h a t n o d u la tio n o f a l f a l f a and Chinese cowpea was enhanced by Phygon or
Arasan seed tr e a tm e n ts follow ed by in o c u l a t i o n w ith Rhizobium.
However,
th e y o b serv ed , t h a t n o d u la tio n on p l a n t s from t r e a t e d seed o ccu rred only
- 13 -
on l a t e r a l r o o t s .
In c o n t r a s t , . n o d u la tio n on p l a n t s from u n t r e a t e d seed
o ccu rred on t a p r o o t s as w e ll as l a t e r a l r o o t s .
concluded t h a t in s o i l s where b a c t e r i a are
should no t be used.
S h e rf and Reddy ( l 7 )
needed, chemical tre a tm e n t
However, th e y b e lie v e d t h a t s o y b e a n -in o c u la tin g
b a c t e r i a were p l e n t i f u l in most Iowa s o i l s ,
R u h lo ff and Burton (15) t e s t e d the c o m p a t i b i l i t y of Rhizobium w ith
s e v e r a l c h em ica ls.
They co ated a b so rb e n t paper d is k s w ith seed pro­
t e c t a n t d u s t s , placed th e d i s k s on a g ar p l a t e s seeded w ith R h iz obiurn,
and a f t e r 7 days measured th e zones o f i n h i b i t e d growth su rro u n d in g t h e ^
d isk s.
They found t. h a t th e i n h i b i t i o n zone f o r Arasan and Arasan SF was
g r e a t e r th a n f o r Spergon and Fhygori,
In th e same stu d y , th e y t e s t e d the
s u r v iv a l o f Rhizpbium under s im u la te d ..s o il c o n d itio n s when mixed with
chemical in th e r a t i o of 2 : 7.
T h eir r e s u l t s in d ic a te d t h a t i f
i n o c u l a t e d , c h em ica lly coated seeds are p la n te d in m oist s o il,, the num­
b e r o f Rhizobium which su rv iv e may be s u f f i c i e n t t o b rin g ab o u t e f f e c t
t i v e i n o c u l a t i o n , b u t t h a t under d ry e r c o n d itio n s t h i s may n o t be t r u e .
In th e p r e s e n t study th e e f f e c t s o f chemical seed tr e a tm e n t Upon
,
I
s ta n d e s ta b lis h m e n t o f fo rag e crops have been measured. Y ield d e t e r ­
m in a tio n s over a p e rio d o f y e a rs would be a more d i r e c t measure of the
b e n e f i t o f stan d d i f f e r e n c e s b ro u g h t about by seed t r e a tm e n t.
However,
stan d c o u n ts are n o t w ith o u t v a lu e .
In r e s p e c t t o c e r e a l seed t r e a t m e n t , Leukel ( l l ) p o in te d out t h a t
in c re a s e d s ta n d s due t o tr e a tm e n t do n o t always produce h ig h e r y i e l d s
because o f in c re a s e d t i l l e r i n g o f th e rem aining p l a n t s .
However, he
14 -
b e lie v e d t h a t i f weeds accompany poor s ta n d s , tre a tm e n t u s u a ll y g iv e s
in c re a s e d y i e l d s .
Machacek e t a l . ( l 2 ) , in experim ents in Canada, dem­
o n s tr a te d t h a t under weedy c o n d itio n s small g r a in s f a i l e d t o compensate
f o r low g e rm in a tio n by in c re a s e d t i l l e r i n g .
The y i e l d o f g r a i n under
such c o n d itio n s was r e l a t e d t o th e number o f p l a n t s per p l o t .
Ronningen and Hess ( l 4 ) concluded t h a t stan d counts o f o ld e r e s ­
t a b l i s h e d s ta n d s were o f c o n s id e ra b le v alu e f o r d e term in in g r e l a t i v e
performance o f v a r i e t i e s o f a l f a l f a in Maryland.
I t i s p o s s ib le t h a t
i n i t i a l s ta n d s are d i r e c t l y c o r r e l a t e d w ith stan d as th e p la n t i n g ages.
I
15 -
_______ ____ MATERIALS AND;METHODS
High q u a l i t y , u n tr e a te d seed , chosen from samples on f i l e in the
Montana G rain I n s p e c tio n L a b o ra to ry , was used th ro u g h o u t t h i s study.
Three f u n g ic id e s were t e s t e d :
1.
A rasan (50% t e tr a m e th y l th iu ra m d i s u l f i d e ) .
2.
Spergon (96% t e t r a e h l o r o - p a r a - b e n z o q u in o n e ).
3.
P i t ts b u r g h B-856 (50% I , 3 -d i c h I o f o - 5 ,5 -d ip h e n y l
h y4 d a n to >in
-- *) .
_
^ s, » ,
.
Seed was t r e a t e d by p la c in g chemical and seed in a g l a s s j a r and
shaking th e j a r by hand u n t i l th e chemical w as"evenly d i s t r i b u t e d over
th e seed.
Excess dosage r a t e s were a p p lie d by adding an e x c e ss of
chem ical t o th e seed in a j a r , s h a k in g ,
excess.
and th e n sc re e n in g o f f the
U n til th e f a l l o f 1956, an e x ce ss dosage was a p p lie d t o a l l
seed b eing t r e a t e d sin ce o th e r workers ( l , 9 ) were using t h i s method.
However, f o r la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s made in th e f a l l and e a r l y w in te r of
1956, ^ o f I p e r c e n t by w eight of chemical was a p p lie d .
H u ffin e s i l t loam s o i l from v a r io u s p re v io u s c ro p p in g s , in c lu d in g
c o rn , sm all g r a i n , a l f a l f a , g r a s s , and f a llo w , -"was used in f i e l d and
la b o ra to ry s o il t e s t s .
A.
F ie ld T e s ts
In a l l f i e l d t e s t s , 100 seed s were p la n te d ^ t o ■§■ inch deep .in rows
3 - f e e t lo n g , spaced I f o o t a p a r t .
Randomized b lock d e sig n s were used
th ro u g h o u t e x c e p t f o r a s p l i t p l o t d e sig n used in the t e s t which compared
— 16 —
th e e f f e c t o f th e 3 chem icals upon emergence o f 20 d i f f e r e n t crop spe­
c ies.
Except where o th erw ise i n d i c a t e d , t e s t s were r e p l i c a t e d 4 tim es
and s ta n d co u n ts were ta k en 2 t o 3 weeks a f t e r p l a n t i n g .
Commercial Rhizobium inoculum fo r a l f a l f a and f o r b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l
was used in a p p r o p r ia te t e s t s .
Seed was in o c u la te d im m ediately b e fo re p l a n t i n g , a s recommended by
th e inoculum m a n u fa c tu re r.
I n o c u l a t i o n never preceded chemical t r e a t ­
ment. ' When a p p lie d to th e see d , a small amount of inoculum was placed
in an envelope w ith th e seed; th e envelope was th en shaken t o d i s t r i b u t e
inoculum over the seed.
S o il i n o c u l a t i o n was accomplished by mixing a
small amount o f inoculum i n t o th e p la n tin g row.
B.
L ab o rato ry S o il T e s ts
A ll l a b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s were made in 1-g- x
boxes.
box.
x 5 inch p l a s t i c
The e q u iv a l e n t o f 500 grams o f oven-dry s o i l was used in each
S o il was siev ed through a l / l 2 inch ro u n d -h o led s ie v e .
F i e l d c a p a c ity o f the s o i l was determ ined by allo w in g w a ter to
p e n e t r a t e down i n t o a c o n ta i n e r of a i r - d r y s o i l u n t i l p e n e t r a t i o n
c ea sed .
The m o istu re p e rc en ta g e o f th e upper la y e r o f s o i l was d e fin e d
as f i e l d c a p a c ity .
F i e l d c a p a c ity o f H uffine s i l t loam was about 30 p e r c e n t , based on
oven-dry s o i l w e ig h t.
le v el.
T h i r t y p e rc e n t was used as th e wet s o i l m oisture
B rin g in g th e s o i l t o t h i s m oisture and p la n tin g the seed were
done in one o p e r a tio n , ( f i g u r e I ).
17 -
I.
One hundred seeds are
p re sse d i n t o s u rfa c e of
l / 5 of s o i l .
2.
About h a l f o f th e rem aining
s o i l i s added.
3.
Water i s added t o b rin g to
f ie ld cap a c ity .
4.
Remainder o f s o i l i s
placed in box, l e v e l e d ,
and p re s s e d .
5.
Box i s covered t o reduce
w ater l o s s by e v a p o r a tio n .
Fig u re I .
Method o f p la n t i n g la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s a t f i e l d c a p a c ity
18 -
Dry s o i l t e s t s were made in s o i l a t ,15 p e r c e n t m o is tu re .
m o istu re was r a i s e d
w a ter t o th e s o i l .
S o il
t o 15 p e r c e n t;b y adding a c a l c u l a t e d amount of
A f te r w a te r was added, th e s o i l was allow ed t o
s ta n d , e x c e p t fo r o c c a s io n a l s i e v i n g , fo r a t l e a s t 24 h o u rs b e fo re seeds
were p l a n t e d .
When necessary, s o i l was d r i e d in a ^ crop h o t a i r d ry e r,-
S o il m o istu re d e te r m in a tio n s made a f t e r p la n t i n g showed "dry" s o i l mois­
tu r e c o n te n t t o range from 14-16 p e r c e n t, c lo se t o th e d e s i r e d 15
p e r c e n t.
^
, One hundred seeds were p la n te d in each box.
Seeds were p la n te d on
to p of o n e - f i f t h o f the s o i l and covered by the o th e r f o u r - f i f t h s .
gave a uniform p la n tin g dep th of I in c h .
seed g e rm in a to rs .
This
T ests, were made in sta n d a rd
Temperature was c o n t r o l l e d as fo llo w s :
2 days a t 20° C.
10 days a t IO0 C.
10 days a t 20° C.
S p ro u ts were counted a f t e r th e 10-day p e rio d a t 10G_C.
The s te p s ta k e n t o p l a n t seed i n wet s o i l are shown in fig u r e I .
P la n tin g in d ry s o i l was done in the same manner e x c e p t t h a t s te p s 2
and 3 were o m itte d .
— 19 —
C.
■•'
L a b o ra to ry B l o t t e r T e sts
Stan d ard l a b o r a t o r y g e rm in a tio n t e s t s were made in accordance w ith _
the R ules f o r T e s tin g Seeds o f the A s s o c ia tio n of O f f i c i a l S e e d ,A n aly sts
(2)o
Four hundred seeds o f each l o t were t e s t e d in 4 r e p l i c a t e s of 100
seeds.
Legumes were p la n te d between- w a ter-m o isten e d b l o t t e r s and g e r­
minated a t a c o n s ta n t 20® C.
G rasses were p la n te d on to p o f b l o t t e r s
m oistened w ith a 0 .2 p e rc e n t s o l u t i o n of KNOg, p r e c h i l l e d a t 5° C.
5 d a y s , and germ inated a t an a l t e r n a t i n g tem p e ratu re of 20-30° C.
fo r
Nor­
mal and abnormal s p r o u ts and h a rd seeds were c l a s s i f i e d as d i r e c t e d in
th e R ules f o r T e s tin g Seeds ( 2 ) .
C o n tro lle d m oisture b l o t t e r t e s t s were made in Lg- x 4-g- x 5 inch
p l a s t i c b oxes.
A s in g le b l o t t e r , 4 x 4 - ^ in c h e s , was placed in th e b o x ,
and measured amounts o f w a te r were th e n added w ith a b u r e t t e .
A 2-day
i n t e r v a l between adding the w a ter and p la n t i n g the seed was allow ed so
t h a t th e w a ter m oistened th e e n t i r e b l o t t e r .
A ll boxes were covered to
reduce e v a p o r a tio n .
D.
L ab o rato ry Aqar P la te T e s ts
A l a b o r a t o r y t e s t Of R h iz obium-chemical c o m p a t i b i l i t y was made to
supplement f i e l d t e s t s o f c o m p a t i b i l i t y .
A young, a c ti v e c u l t u r e of
b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l R h izo b iurn'ba c t e r i a was t e s t e d f o r c o m p a t i b i l i t y w ith
each of th e th r e e c h em ica ls.
To in s u re c o n ta c t of Rhizobium and
chem ical, measured q u a n t i t i e s o f both were p laced in 500 m i l l i l i t e r s
o f w a ter and mixed in a Waring B lender f o r 20 seconds.
A 2 $ 7
— 20 —
Rhizobium : Chemical r a t i o was used sin ce R u h lo ff and. Burton ( l 5 ) had
chosen t h i s r a t i o .
The m ixture was im m ediately moved from the Waring
B le n d e r .t o an a u to m a tic sh ak er t o keep the b a c t e r i a an d ,ch em ical in
c o n tac t.
At i n t e r v a l s o f l-§-, 5, .10, and 15 m in u tes, t r a n s f e r s were made
w ith a p i p e t t e from th e m ixture i n t o d i s t i l l e d w a te r .
100, I s 1000, I j 10,000,
t a i n i n g no c h em ical, was
and I s 100,000 were made.
D ilu tio n s of I s
A check, con- •
used through the e n t i r e p ro ced u re.
One m i l l i l i t e r o f s o l u t i o n from each d i l u t i o n of each tre a tm e n t
was t r a n s f e r r e d i n t o a s t e r i l e p e t r i d i s h .
Melted m annitol ag ar was
th e n a d d e d . . The d is h was s w irle d and allow ed t o stan d f o r 3 d a y s, a t
which tim e colony counts were made.
- 21 -
RESULTS
Comparison o f Chemicals
The t h r e e chemical seed t r e a t i n g compounds were compared in f i e l d
and la b o r a t o r y t r i a l s .
Table I b r in g s to g e t h e r the r e s u l t s o f chemical
comparisons ig n o rin g any i n t e r a c t i o n s t h a t may have o ccu rred in the
i n d iv id u a l t e s t s .
F ie ld comparisons r e v e a le d no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s b e tw ee n 'th e
th r e e c h e m ic a ls , w ith one e x c e p tio n .
In t e s t 2, w ith a l f a l f a , Arasan
tr e a tm e n t s i g n i f i c a n t l y lowered emergence.
In none o f th e o th e r f i e l d
t e s t s were d i f f e r e n c e s between c h em ica lly t r e a t e d and u n tr e a te d seed
sig n ific a n t. ‘
In l a b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s P itts b u r g h B-856 appeared t o be th e b e s t
fu n g ic id e f o r a l f a l f a and Arasan th e b e s t , f o r c r e s te d w h e a tg ra s s.
The h ig h e r emergence o f a l f a l f a seed t r e a t e d w ith P it ts b u r g h B-856 in
t e s t s 8 and 9 was s i g n i f i c a n t when compared w ith emergence of seed
t r e a t e d w ith A rasan.
There was no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e between Arasan
and Spergon tr e a tm e n ts in th e s e t e s t s or between any of the chemical
tr e a tm e n ts in th e o th e r l a b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s .
The u n tr e a te d check
was s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower th a n th e 3 chemical tre a tm e n ts in a l l la b o r a to r y
s o i l t e s t s e x c e p t 2 ( c r e s t e d w h e a tg ra s s, t e s t s 7 and 9 ) .
In t e s t 7,
th e u n tr e a te d check was s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower th a n Arasan and P it ts b u r g h
B-856, b u t was n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from Spergon tr e a tm e n t
(Table I ) .
In e v e ry t e s t on b l o t t e r s e x c e ss Spergon tre a tm e n t lowered
g e rm in a tio n .
This was t r u e in s ta n d a rd g e rm in a tio n t e s t s ( t e s t 12)
w e ll as in c o n t r o l l e d m o istu re b l o t t e r s t e s t s ' ( t e s t s 10 and 1 1).
....... - . 2 3 - .
Table: I .
T est
No.
E f f e c t of chemical seed tr e a tm e n t on g e rm in a tio n , emergence,■
and s ta n d e s ta b lis h m e n t.
Cr OD
Seed t r e a t i n g compound'
P ittsNumber o f
burgh
Unsam D lesi/ ' Arasan Soeroon
B-856
tre a te d
F Te I d e t e s t s— p e rc e n t emeroence
16- 16- 16- 83/ 32
33
35
33
I
A lfa lfa
2
3
A lfa lfa
C re ste d
w h e atg rass
B ird sfo o t
tre fo il^ /
5
10 legumes
40-40-40-40
5
10 g r a s s e s
40-40-40-40
6
7
*
L ab o rato ry s o i l t e s t s — p e r c e n t . emeroence
6- 6- 6- 2
25*
20*
A lfa lfa
25*
C re ste d
4- 4- 4- 2
75*
w h e atg rass
65
79*
8
A lfa lfa
20- 20- 20-20
50*
' 45*
62*
27
9
9
A lfa lfa
C re ste d
w h e atg rass
20- 20- 20-20
30*
26*
34*
19
20- 20- 20-20
68
65
64
62 .
G erm ination on b l o t t e r s
72*
48-48448-24
86
85
86
40-40-40-20
79
63*
68
4
10
11
4 legumes
4 legumes
and I g r a s s
12-12-12- 4
32*
37
43
41
8- 8- 8- 8
18
15
21
16
12- 12- 12-12
9
8
8
9
11
9
10
11
20
16 .
15
18
.
5
55
.# 2
10 legumes
40-40-40-40
66
52* ■
65
72
65
12
10 g r a s s e s
40-40-40-40
80
77*
79
80
^ S i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from the u n tr e a te d check a t 5% l e v e l ,
I / Number o f samples or r e p l i c a t i o n s used t o e s t a b l i s h th e means fo r
each seed t r e a t m e n t , A rasan,- Spergon, P itts b u r g h B-856 and un, tre a te d re sp e c tiv e ly ,
2 J P e rc e n t stan d e s ta b lis h m e n t,
■2/ A 1955 f i e l d t e s t . A ll o th e r f i e l d t e s t s were made in 1956.
- 24 -
The E f f e c t o f Excess Chemical T rea tm e n t
The lowered g e rm in a tio n o f S p e r g g n - t r e a t e d s e e d in _ la b o r a to r y b l o t ­
t e r t e s t s (T able I ) le d t o an i n v e s t i g a t i o n t o determine' i f d i f f e r e n c e s
in g e rm in a tio n were due t o d i f f e r e n c e s in chemical t o x i c i t y or t o d i f ­
f e r e n c e s in th e amount o f chemical s t i c k i n g t o the seed.
dence t h a t more th a n th e recommended
There was e v i ­
p e rc e n t r a t e might be s t i c k i n g
when chem icals were a p p lie d in e x c e ss and t h a t th e chem icals d i f f e r e d in
■ s t i c k i n g c a p a c ity .
To determ ine how much chemical was ad h erin g t o seed o f d i f f e r e n t
c ro p s , 4 l o t s o f each o f 6^ crops were t r e a t e d w ith an e x ce ss of each, of
th e 3 c h e m ic a ls.
Each tr e a tm e n t was r e p l i c a t e d th r e e tim e s .
c e n t o f chemical ad h erin g t o th e seed was th e n d eterm in ed .
'■ ■r
-
■
The p e r­
T reated seed
.
w eight minus u n tr e a te d seed w eight d iv id e d by the u n tr e a te d seed w eight
e q u a ls th e p e r c e n t o f chemical a d h e rin g .
. The a n a l y s i s o f v a ria n c e t a b l e o f t h i s experim ent i s shown in
•Table I I and th e p e r t i n e n t means are shown in Table I I I .
More chemical adhered t o seed o f th e g r a s s e s th a n t o seed of legumes,
I
The l e a s t amount o f chemical adhered t o r e g u l a r l y shaped, smooth seed of
b ird s fo O t t r e f o i l .
N early fiv e tim es as much Spergon as A rasan adhered
t o seed (Table I I I ) . ,
D i f f e r e n t l o t s o f seed o f tim o th y , c r e s te d w h e a tg ra s s, la d in o
c lo v e r , and b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l r e t a i n e d d i f f e r e n t q u a n t i t i e s of chemical.
The d i f f e r e n t l o t s o f a l s i k e c lo v e r and c r e s t e d w h e atg rass seed v a rie d
in th e amounts o f d i f f e r e n t chem icals th e y r e t a i n e d (Table I I ) .
In
- 25 -
Table I I .
A n a ly sis o f v a ria n c e o f p e rc e n t chemical ad h erin g t o seed
when a p p lie d in e x c e s s , based on u n tr e a te d seed w e ig h t,
( t e s t 15).
Source of
V ariatio n
Degrees o f
Freedom
Crops
5
Chemicals
2
Crops x Chemicals
10
Lots w ith in crops
18
A lfa lfa lo ts
3
A ls ik e c lo v e r l o t s
3
Timothy l o t s
3
C re ste d w h e a tg ra s s l o t s
3
Ladino c lo v e r l o t s
3
B ir d s f o o t t r e f o i l l o t s
3
Lots w ith in crops x chem icals
36
A l f a l f a l o t s x chem icals
6
A ls ik e c lo v e r l o t s x chem icals
-6
Timothy l o t s x chem icals
' 6
C re ste d w h e a tg ra ss l o t s x chem icals ■ 6
Ladino c lo v e r l o t s x chem icals
6
B ir d s f o o t t r e f o i l l o t s x chem icals
.6
E r ro r
144
* S i g n i f i c a n t a t 5% l e v e l
** S i g n i f i c a n t a t 1% l e v e l
"Mean
Sauare
36.3453**
378.9252**
6,3242**
5.5846**
.6544
2.3877
3.6803*
11. 6180**
11.3752**
3.7921*
1.9604*
.7532
3.2716* •
.5047
3.4425**
2.0194
1.7710
1.1341
— 26 •—
Table I I I .
Mean p e r c e n t chemical ad h erin g to seed when a p p lie d in
e x c e s s , based on u n tr e a te d seed w eig h t ( t e s t 15).
Chemical
Arasan
Soeraon
P itts­
burgh
B-856
Average
I
2
3
4
of 4 lo ts
0 .7
0.1
0 .9
0 .5
0 .6
4 .2
5 .9
5 .4
4 .8
5 .1
1.9
2 .3
2 .0
2 .6
2 .2
2,63
Average
I
2
3
4
of 4 lo ts
1.3
1 .2
0 ,6
1 .0
1 .0
6 .0
8 .8
5 .6
5 .6 6 .5
2 .8
2 .7
2 .8
4 .2
3,1
3,55
I
2
3
4
of 4 lo ts
2 .1
2 .1
1.5
2 .4
2 .0
6 .6
5 .5
4 .2
5 .6
5 .5
5 .2
4 .7
3 .7
5 .3
4 .8
4.08
Average
I
2
3
4
of 4 lo ts
2 .0
1 .6
2 .4
1.8
1.8
10 .2
5 .2
• 8 .7
8 .5
8 .2
5 .1
2 .6
4 .1
5 .4
4 ,3
4.80
Average
I
2
3
4
of 4 lo ts
0 .9
0 .8
1 ,0
1 .4
1 .0
4 .6
4 .1
6 .4
8 .0
5 .8
1 .7
1.5
2 .1
4 .5
2 .4
3.07
I
2
3
4
of 4 l o t s
0 .8
0 .2
1 .2
0 .4
0 .7
3.8
1.9
3 .8
5 .3
3 .7
1.7
0 .9
2 .4
1 .6
1.7
2.02
1.21
5.78
3.08
Seed l o t
Crop
A lfa lfa
A lsik e
c lo v e r
Timothy
Average
C re ste d
w h e a tg ra ss
Ladino
c lo v e r
B ir d s f o o t
tre fo il
Average
Chemical average
Crop
Averaae
-T Ig e n e r a l th e s e d i f f e r e n c e s were small a s compared with.-the d i f f e r e n c e s in
chem icals and in s p e c ie s .
Treatm ent p erc en ta g e ran g ed from I p e rc e n t t o 10.2 p e r c e n t.
It
ap p ears t h a t th e amount o f chemical ad h erin g when an e x ce ss o f chemical
i s a p p lie d t o seed w i l l depend upon th e kind o f chemical b eing a p p lie d ,
th e c ro p , th e p a r t i c u l a r l o t of seed of t h a t crop being t r e a t e d , and
perh ap s o th e r f a c t o r s .
The amount o f w ater a v a i l a b l e t o t r e a t e d seed b eing t e s t e d in
la b o r a t o r y b l o t t e r t e s t s may a f f e c t th e degree of chemical c o n c e n tra tio n
im m ediately around the seed.
ic a l to x ic ity .
A h ig h e r c o n c e n tr a tio n may in c re a s e chem­
To t e s t th e e f f e c t o f m o istu re l e v e l on g e rm in a tio n of
t r e a t e d see d , th e c r i t i c a l m o istu re l e v e l f o r g e rm in a tio n o f crops t o be
t e s t e d was found.
Four u n tr e a te d seed l o t s o f each o f 6 crops were
p la n te d in c o n t r o l l e d m o istu re b l o t t e r t e s t s .
S ig n ific a n t d ifferen c es
were found t o e x i s t between g e rm in a tio n p e rc e n ta g e s a t d i f f e r e n t m oisture
l e v e l s (Table IV ).
Lots w ith in a l f a l f a . a n d c r e s te d w h e a tg ra ss showed
d i f f e r e n t m oisture re s p o n s e s , b u t th e r e were no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s
between m o istu re re s p o n se s o f l o t s w ith in th e o th e r crops (Table V).
Based on th e se r e s u l t s , 6 m i l l i l i t e r s o f w ater was used a s the
m oisture l e v e l f o r t e s t i n g th e e f f e c t o f m o istu re on g e rm in a tio n of
t r e a t e d seed ( t e s t s 10 and 11, Table V I)-i/.
In t e s t I l , a l f a l f a , a l s i k e c lo v e r , la d in o c lo v e r , b i r d s f o o t t r e ­
f o i l , and tim o th y were t e s t e d .
Timothy was n o t in clu d ed in t e s t 10.
28 -
Table IV,
Mean g e rm in a tio n p erc en ta g e of 3 r e p l i c a t i o n s of 4 l o t s
o f 6 cro p s t e s t e d on b l o t t e r s a t 5 m oisture l e v e l s ( t e s t 14),
Croo
M i l l i l i t e r s o f w ater added t o b l o t t e r s
7 ml.
6 ml ,
5 ml.
3 ml.
4 ml.
Ladino c lo v e r
83
85
78 .
60
4
A lfa lfa
88
84
77
58
2
A ls ik e c lo v e r
87
86
81
54
7
B ir d s f o o t t r e f o i l
60
66
46
27
4
C re ste d w h e atg rass
87
84
33
12
O
Timothy
86
79
74
O
O
Average
82
81
54
35
3
V
l
■
T ab le V
A n a ly s is o f v a ria n c e o f g e rm in a tio n p erc en ta g e o f 3
r e p l i c a t i o n s o f 4 l o t s o f 6 crops t e s t e d on b l o t t e r s a t
5 m o istu re l e v e l s ( t e s t 14).
Degrees of
. Freedom
Source of
V ariatio n
Crop
M oisture l e v e l
Crop x m o istu re l e v e l
Lots w ith in crops
A lfa lfa lo ts
A ls ik e l o t s
Ladino l o t s
Timothy l o t s
C re ste d w h e a tg ra ss l o t s
B ir d s f o o t t r e f o i l l o t s
Lots w i t h i n . cro p s x m o istu re l e v e l
-A lf a lf a l o t s x m o istu re l e v e l
A ls ik e l o t s x m o istu re l e v e l
Ladino l o t s x m oisture l e v e l
Timothy l o t s x m oisture l e v e l
C re ste d w h e a tg ra ss l o t s x
m o istu re l e v e l
B ir d s f o o t t r e f o i l l o t s x
m o istu re l e v e l
E r ro r
*
**
S i g n i f i c a n t a t 5% l e v e l
S i g n i f i c a n t a t 1% l e v e l
3
33
:> 3
: 3
3
.3
72
’ 12
■'12
" 12
.. ...12
9,731.071**
79,374.452**
2,7 8 3 .6 8 6 * *
929.585**
1,908.333**
544.923**
288.411*
289.305*
1,598.978**
947.528**
138.393
202.520**
130.366
55.383
101.861
1 12
215.102**
5
4
20
18
.
Mean
Square
:■.12
240
125.125
83.647
- 30 -
Two r a t e s o f tr e a tm e n t and 2 m oisture l e v e l s were used in both t e s t s .
T e s ts 10 and 11 were conducted in th e c r i t i c a l m oisture range for
g e rm in a tio n ,
t h i s i s evidenced by s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s in germina­
t i o n due t o m oisture l e v e l (Table V I I ) .
The d e p re s s in g e f f e c t o f ex­
c e s s Spergon was n o t a f f e c t e d by m o istu re l e v e l .
However, th e de­
p r e s s in g e f f e c t o f th e recommended dosage r a t e o f Spergon appeared t o be
overcome a t a high m o istu re l e v e l .
F u r th e r t e s t i n g of t h i s p o in t might
be o f v a lu e .
L a b o ra to ry s o i l t e s t s comparing th e e f f e c t of m oisture l e v e l on
emergence o f seed t r e a t e d w ith recommended dosages o f chemical were a ls o
conducted.
Mean r e s u l t s are p re s e n te d in Table V III and th e a n a ly s e s
o f v a ria n c e in Tables IX and XVII.
I t w i l l be noted t h a t th e mean
s q u a r e s . f o r chemical seed tr e a tm e n t and f o r chemical seed tr e a tm e n t by
m o istu re l e v e l I n t e r a c t i o n are s i g n i f i c a n t f o r both t e s t s .
Chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t d i f f e r e n c e s in d ry s o i l were s m a ll, a lth o u g h th e de­
c re a se d emergence o f P i t ts b u r g h B-856 in t e s t 9 was s i g n i f i c a n t .
In wet
s o i l a l l chemical seed tr e a tm e n t means were s i g n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r than
th e u n tr e a te d checks
P it t s b u r g h B-856 and Arasan tr e a tm e n ts gave s ig ­
n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r emergence th a n Spergon.
l/
Seven m i l l i l i t e r s o f w a ter absorbed by a 4 x 4-g- inch b l o t t e r
ap proxim ates optimum m o istu re l e v e l f o r the stan d ard germina­
t i o n p ro c e d u re .
T ab le VI .
The mean" p e rc e n t g e rm in a tio n o f 4 and 5 crops r e s p e c t i v e l y
in t e s t s 10 and 11 when t r e a t e d a t 2 r a t e s o f chemical and
germ inated on b l o t t e r s a t 2 m oisture l e v e l s .
............
Seed
Treatm ent •
Chemical
■ Rate of
Treatment
M i l l i l i t e r s o f w a te r a p p lie d t o b l o t t e r s
T e s t 10
T est 11
13 ml.
6 ml.
13 ml.
6 ml.
G erm ination p e rc en ta a e
Arasan
.5%
86
86
88
64
Arasan
Excess
87
85
87
75
Spergon
.5%
82
69
80
52
Spergon
Excess
72
• 64
65
54
P i t t . B-856
.5%
83
84
53
P i t t . B-856
Excess
86
88
85
83
52
U n tre a te d
None
86
86.
82
.62
.......................
Table VII .
- 32 -
A n a ly sis o f v a ria n c e o f t e s t s o f ch em ica lly t r e a t e d seed,
conducted in th e c r i t i c a l m o istu re range f o r g e rm in a tio n
( t e s t s 10 and 11
' ,• . ,Test IQ '______
Source o f
Degrees o f
Mean
V a r ia tio n ___________ Freedom_________Square
T e st .11_______ _
Degrees o f
Mean
Freedom
Square
Crop
.3
6,36 8 .4 0 * *
4
11,540.66**
Chemical seed
tr e a tm e n t
6
1,256.35**
6
993.15**
M oisture l e v e l
I
676.01**
I
17,094.35**
Crop x m o istu re
le v el .
3
153.67
4
1,167,80**
Crop x Chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t
18
24
589.21**
488.32**
.
M oisture l e v e l x
chemical seed
tr e a tm e n t
6
119.88
6
361.12
Crop x m o istu re
l e v e l x chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t
18
75.10
24
■253,60
112
93.38
70
277.36
E r ro r
I/
S i g n i f i c a n t a t 1% l e v e l .
For th e purpose of a n a l y s i s , each of the 2 r a t e s o f each
chemical and th e u n tr e a te d check were c o n sid e re d as in d iv id u a l
tr e a t m e n t s .
- 33 -
Table V IIT.
Average p e r c e n t emergence o f ch em ica lly t r e a t e d and
u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a and c r e s t e d w h e a tg ra s s , p la n te d in
wet and d ry s o i l in th e la b o r a t o r y ( t e s t s 9 and 13).
S o il m oisture l e v e l
29-31%
14-16%
M oisture
M oisture
Chemical seed
Treatment
T e s t 9V
Arasan
63**
35
Spergon
55**
36
P i t t . B-856
68**
29*
U n tre a te d
47
33
P i t t . B-856
62**
13
U n tre a te d
27'^'
9
,’
T e s t 132/
*
**
I/
.
2/
S i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from th e u n tr e a te d check a t th e 5% l e v e l .
S i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from the u n tr e a te d check a t th e 1% l e v e l .
Each v a lu e i s an average f o r
2 samples and 5 s o i l s w ith d i f f e r e n t
cropping h i s t o r i e s , fo r both a l f a l f a and c r e s te d w h e a tg ra s s , or a
t o t a l o f 20 in d i v i d u a l s a m p le s .Each v a lu e i s an average f o r 4 samples and 5 s o i l s w ith d i f f e r e n t
cropping h i s t o r i e s f o r a l f a l f a o n ly , or a t o t a l o f 20 in d iv id u a l
sam ples.
34 -
Table IX.
Source o f
V a r ia tio n
A n a ly sis o f v a ria n c e o f la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t o f a l f a l f a
and c r e s te d w h e a tg ra ss s e e d lin g emergence ( t e s t 9 ) .
i,
Degrees o f
Freedom
P rev io u s crop on s o i l
4
Chemical seed tr e a tm e n t
3
M oisture l e v e l
I
Crops
I
P rev io u s crop on s o i l x crop
4
P rev io u s crop on s o i l x
m o istu re le v e l
4
Chemical seed tr e a tm e n t x
m o istu re l e v e l
3
Chemical seed tr e a tm e n t x crop
3
M oisture l e v e l x crop
I
Previous crop on s o i l x chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t
12
P re v io u s crop on s o i l x chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t x m o istu re
lev el
12
Previous crop on s o i l x chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t x crop
12
P rev io u s crop on s o i l x m oisture
l e v e l x crop
4
Chemical seed tr e a tm e n t x m o istu re
l e v e l x crop
3
P revious crop on s o i l x chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t x m o istu re
12
l e v e l x crop
E rror
80
**
S i g n i f i c a n t a t 1% l e v e l .
Mean
Square
804.38**
702.84**
24,527.26**
56,137.56**
326.67**
249.05**
1,134.01**
301.21**
3,14 1 .7 6 * *
72.54
129.89
107.94
67.15
73.71
155.26
81.74
- 35 -
The d e p re s s in g e f f e c t o f Spergon on g e rm in a tio n in b l o t t e r t e s t s
was not. e v id e n t i n s o i l t e s t s . .
This le a v e s r e s u l t s o f s ta n d a rd germina­
t i o n t e s t s o f S p e rg o n - tre a te d seed open t o q u e s ti o n , sin ce th e germina­
t i o n o f seed on b l o t t e r s i s used as the b a s i s fo r d e te rm in in g seeding
ra te .
In Montana, g r a s s and legume seeds are o f te n exposed t o c o ld , wet
c o n d i t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y when th e y are p la n te d e a r l y . These d a ta in d ic a te
t h a t tr e a tm e n t under c o ld , wet c o n d itio n s i s o f more v a lu e th a n t r e a t ­
ment under cold* dry c o n d itio n s .
Time o f Treatm ent
The le n g th o f tim e e l a p s i n g between seed tr e a tm e n t and p la n tin g was
i n v e s t i g a t e d from two p o in ts o f views
1.
The e f f e c t o f tim e on seed v i a b i l i t y .
2.
The e f f e c t o f tim e on th e f u n g ic id a l v alu e of
th e c h em icals.
/
Seed v i a b i l i t y , as measured by s ta n d a rd g e rm in a tio n t e s t s of
t r e a t e d a l f a l f a s e e d , was n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from v i a b i l i t y of
u n tr e a te d seed a f t e r th e seed was s to r e d in th e la b o r a to r y f o r I year
(T able X).
The a n a l y s i s o f v a r ia n c e giv en in Table X showed no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f ­
f e r e n c e s due t o length, o f tim e o f tr e a tm e n t b e fo re p l a n t i n g .
The chem­
i c a l s were s i m i l a r in t h i s r e g a r d . I t may be concluded t h a t the
“ -36 -
.........................
f u n g i c i d a l v a lu e o f th e th r e e chem icals was n o t a f f e c t e d by time of
treatm en t.
This i n d i c a t e s t h a t th e r e i s no problem a s s o c ia te d w ith
"
s t o r i n g seed t r e a t e d w ith A rasan , Spergon, or P it ts b u r g h B-856.
C o m p a tib ility o f Chemical F u n g ic id e s w ith Rhizobium
F i e l d . t e s t s o f a l f a l f a and b i f d s f o o t t r e f o i l in d ic a te d a p p a re n t
c o m p a t i b i l i t y between Rhizobium nodule-form ing b a c t e r i a and the chemical
f u n g ic id e s .
Mean d i f f e r e n c e s in emergence o f Rhizobium in o c u la te d and
u n in b c u la te d a l f a l f a grown in 1955 were no t s i g n i f i c a n t (Table X I).
Exam ination o f p l a n t r o o t s showed abundant n o d u la tio n r e g a r d l e s s of
in o c u l a t i o n or tr e a tm e n t.
p l e n t i f u l in th e so il,.
I t i s p o s s ib le t h a t a l f a l f a Rhizobium were;
For tfyis re a so n b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l was used t o
t e s t c o m p a t i b i l i t y in 1956.
B ir d s f o o t t r e f o i l i s r e l a t i v e l y new t o t h i s
r e g io n and th e s p e c ie s of Rhizobium which w i l l form r o o t n o d u les on i t
must be provided in the form of commercial inoculum i f n o d u la tio n i s t o
ta k e p l a c e .
Mean r e s u l t s o f d a ta c o l l e c t e d in t h i s experim ent are shown
in Table XII and th e a n a l y s i s o f v a ria n c e i s p re s e n te d in Table X IIIi
There were no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s in f i e l d s ta n d s 2^- months
a f t e r p l a n t i n g due t o tr e a tm e n t or t o i n o c u l a t i o n (Table X I I I ) .
I n o c u l a t i o n on seed or in s o i l s i g n i f i c a n t l y in c re a s e d th e p e rc e n t
o f p l a n t s in flo w er 2^- months a f t e r p l a n t i n g .
means were n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t .
Chemical seed tre a tm e n t
P i t ts b u r g h B-856, the chemical
seed tr e a tm e n t g iv in g the h i g h e s t p e rc e n t o f p l a n t s in flow er when p re ­
s e n t on u n in o c u la te d seed or seed p la n te d in in o c u la te d s o i l , r e s u l t e d
in th e lo w est p e rc e n t o f p l a n t s in flow er when seed was in o c u la te d w ith
,„
Table X.
Test
No.
I
2
3
6
7
13
14
E f f e c t o f le n g th o f time e la p s in g between chemical seed
tr e a tm e n t and p la n t i n g on g e rm in a tio n and emergence.
Crop and
Year
Time of
T r e a tm e n t!/
No. of
R e p lic a ­
tio n s
Chemical seed tre a tm e n t
P itt,
Un­
gon
B-856
tre a te d
Ap 3— Sper-
san
P e rc e n t emergence in f i e l d t e s t s
4
2
30
33
36
0
34
34
34
A lfa lfa
4
1956
12
37
35
43
I
24 41
43
0
.36
36
44
C re ste d
■4
2
w h e a tg ra s s
18
14
21
1956
0
17
15
21
Fbrcent emergence in la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s
A lfa lfa
2
1956
18
31
22
33
6
26 13
38
0
14
19
17
C re ste d
2
2
w h e a tg ra ss
18
14
21
1956
0
17
15
21
P e rc e n t g e rm in a tio n in b l o t t e r t e s t s
A lfa lfa
4
1956
12
74
73
75
75
C re ste d
w h e a tg ra s s
5
A lfa lfa
1957
5
A lfa lfa
1955
1957
15
. - 37 -
4
33
41
16 '
5
16
85
93
91
92
86
81
79
85
4
'
Number o f months e la p s in g between seed tr e a tm e n t and p l a n t i n g .
J
J
- 38 Table XI.
The e f f e c t o f in o c u l a t i o n w ith Rhizobium of ch em ically
t r e a t e d seed on th e emergence o f a l f a l f a in 1955 f i e l d
t e s t s ( t e s t 1 )1 /.
Rhizobium
I n o c u la tio n
Arasan
Chemical seed tr e a tm e n t
P itt.
Un­
Soer cjon
B-856
tre a te d
I n o c u la te d on seed
32
34
34
34
Not in o c u la te d
32
33
37
32
V alues r e p r e s e n t average p e r c e n t emergence of 4 r e p l i c a t i o n s .
- 39 -
Table X II.
Mean v a lu e s fo r b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l e s ta b lis h m e n t, m a tu r ity ,
and n o d u la tio n in f i e l d t e s t s o f in o c u la te d and ch em ically
t r e a t e d seed ( t e s t 4 ) .
Method of
in o c u l a t i n g
w ith Rhizobium
. Seed tre a tm e n t
P itt.
Arasan
Soeroon
B-856
U n tre a te d
P e rc e n t o f seed p la n te d e s t a b l i s h i n o p l a n t s
On seed
In s o i l
None
6
12
11
8
8
6
11
7
8
Average
9
8
S
9
12
5
•
Averaoe
9
10
7
9
P e rc e n t of p l a n t s in flow er
On seed
In s o i l
None
46
48
21
53
15
5
Average
39
21
.
27
54
50
32
35
22
44
26
40*
38*
22
Nodulation; score
On seed
In s o i l
None
4 .1 2
3.68
1.37
3.11
3.31
1.53
2.8 9
3.58
2 .3 5
Average
3.0 6
2.65
2 .9 4
3.41
3.22
1.93
.
'3 ,3 8 * *
3.45**
1.79
2.85
* S i g n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r th a n th e u n in o c u la te d check a t the 5%.l e v e l .
** S i g n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r th a n the u n in o c u la te d check a t the 1% l e v e l .
- 40 -
Table X I I I .
Source o f
V a r ia tio n
A n a ly sis o f v a ria n c e of the e f f e c t o f" Rhizobium
i n o c u l a t i o n and chemical seed tr e a tm e n t on f i e l d
s ta n d , h o d u la tio n s c o r e , and p e r c e n t p l a n t s in
flow er o f b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l ( t e s t 4 ) .
Degrees o f
Freedom
F ie ld
Stand
Mean s a u a re s
Modulation P e rc e n t p l a n ts
Score
in flow er ■
R e p l ic a tio n
3
79.3*
1.01
137.9
Chemical seed
tr e a tm e n t
3
8 .0
0.35
1 ,1 1 3 .8
Rhizpbium
in o cu latio n
2
1 9 .0 ,
14.02**
1 ,6 0 4 .7 *
In o c u la tio n x
chemical seed
tr e a tm e n t
6
27 .7
0.8 7
1 ,1 3 2 .2 *
33
2 5.6
0.48
413.8
E r ro r
* S i g n i f i c a n t a t 5% l e v e l .
**■ S i g n i f i c a n t a t 1% l e v e l .
- 41 -
Rhizobium..
This i n d i c a t e s an
e f f e c t i v e f u n g ic id a l a c t i o n of .th e chemi­
c a l , b u t a la c k of c o m p a t i b i l i t y o f t h i s chemical and Rhizobium.
Re­
s u l t s w ith Spergon were th e o p p o s ite , i n d i c a t i n g poor f u n g ic id a l a c ti o n
b u t good c o m p a t i b i l i t y w ith Rhizobium (Table X I I ) .
Roots o f the b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l p l a n t s were examined f o r n o d u le s.
A system o f sc o rin g p l a n t s f o r n o d u la tio n was e s t a b l i s h e d .
Scoring was
based o n :,th e . r e l a t i v e number; o f nodules, p e r, i n d iv id u a l ,plant...
A zero
score was g iv en when no no d u les were p r e s e n t and a score o f 5 was given
t o p l a n t s p o s s e s s in g la rg e numbers of n o d u le s.
I n o c u la tio n appeared to
be e s s e n t i a l fo r a h ig h n o d u la tio n s c o r e , b u t method o f i n o c u la tin g was
o f no consequence.
D iff e re n c e s due t o chemical seed tr e a tm e n t and t o
chem ical seed tr e a tm e n t by Rhizobium in o c u l a t i o n i n t e r a c t i o n
were not
sig n ific a n t.
The t o x i c i t y o f seed tr e a tm e n t compounds t o Rhizobium was measured
f u r t h e r by ag ar p l a t e t e s t s .
Colony co u n ts a t I : 100 d i l u t i o n were
found t o be b e s t f o r making com parisons.
t o x i c t o b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l Rhizobium.
P it ts b u r g h B-856 was the most
Spergon was th e l e a s t t o x i c bu t
s t i l l k i l l e d la rg e numbers o f b a c t e r i a when compared w ith th e u n tre a te d
check.
D if f e r e n c e s due t o time o f c o n ta c t were not s i g n i f i c a n t bu t
chemical by tim e i n t e r a c t i o n was s i g n i f i c a n t a t the 5 p e r c e n t l e v e l .
This i s due t o k i l l i n g of b a c t e r i a by time o f c o n ta c t w ith Arasan and
P itts b u r g h B-856, b u t no t w ith Spergon (T able XIV).
- 42 Table XIV.
Colony co u n ts o f Rhizobium on ag ar p l a t e s when exposed
f o r v a ry in g p e rio d s o f time t o 3 chem icals and a c o n tro l
tr e a tm e n t.
Time of c o n ta c t
w ith chemical
.
Arasan
Chemical seed tre a tm e n t
Soeraon
P itt.B - 8 5 6
U n tre a te d
Ig- m inutes
103
170
29
5 m inutes
121
142
29
400 p lu s
10 m inutes
74
139
18
550
15 m inutes
21
184
12
400 p lu s
Chemical mean v a lu e s
80**
159**
20
450 p lu s
**
.
S i g n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r th a n P itt.B - 8 5 6 a t 1% l e v e l .
A ll chemical mean v a lu e s were s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower
th a n th e u n tr e a te d check.
400 p lu s
- 43 -
E f f e c t o f P rev io u s Cropping H is to r y of S o il
I t h a s been shown t h a t tr e a tm e n t o f seed p la n te d in c o ld , wet s o i l
i s o f more v a lu e th a n tr e a tm e n t o f seed p la n te d in a c o ld , d ry s o i l .
Another v a r i a b l e t h a t might in flu e n c e tr e a tm e n t i s the p re v io u s crop
grown on s o i l in which t r e a t e d seed i s p la n te d .
T e sts were conducted to
in v e stig a te th is p o s s ib ility .
F i e l d t e s t s o f Arasan t r e a t e d and u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a seed were con-^
d u cted on s o i l s o f fiv e p re v io u s cropping h i s t o r i e s in 1955.
F ie ld
t e s t s o f a l f a l f a and c r e s te d w h e atg rass were p la n te d under th e same con­
d i t i o n s in 1956.
The only s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e found between t r e a t e d
and u n tr e a te d seed was o b ta in e d in 1955 w ith a l f a l f a in s o i l p la n te d to
corn th e p re v io u s y e ar (Table XV).
H ighly s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s in
emergence co u n ts in s o i l s o f th e d i f f e r e n t p re v io u s cropping h i s t o r i e s
were found in both y e a rs b u t were n o t c o n s i s t e n t f o r th e 2 y e a r s .
In
1956 th e s e d i f f e r e n c e s were th e same fo r both c r e s te d w h e a tg ra ss and
a lfa lfa .
I t i s p o s s ib le t h a t l o c a t i o n o f the f i e l d s in flu e n c e d th e r e ­
su lts.
L a b o ra to ry s o i l t e s t s in fiv e s o i l s were made w ith a l f a l f a and
c r e s t e d w h e a tg ra s s .
R e s u lts a r e ' shown in Table XVI, the a n a ly s e s of
v a ria n c e in T ab les IX and XVII.
D if f e r e n c e s in emergence due t o chemi­
c a l tr e a tm e n t and t o p re v io u s cropping of s o i l were h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t .
P rev io u s cro p p in g e f f e c t on s o i l , x chemical seed treatm en t, i n t e r a c t i o n
was n o t s i g n i f i c a n t in any of th e t e s t s .
Previous cropping had a d i f ­
f e r e n t i a l in flu e n c e on th e emergence o f u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a and c r e s te d
' - 4 4 .-
Table XV.
P rev io u s
Cropping
H is to r y
o f S o il
The •e f f e c t o f Arasan
- seed• tr e a tm-»et,n- t on emergence
—_ -—
' - ---of
a l f a l f a and c r e s te d w heatgra'ss grown in s o i l s o f 5
p re v io u s cropping h i s t o r i e s in 1955 and 1956 f i e l d
te sts!/o
A lfa lfa
C re ste d w h eatq rass
1956
“
1955
1956
Arasan
UnArasan
Un­
Arasan
Un­
tre a te d
tre a te d
tre a ted
tre a te d
tre a ted
tre a te d
Corn
42*
31
32
34
17
24
Fallow
30
28
32
29
19
12
G rass
25
18
2/
2/
Small g r a in
41
38
2/
2/
A lfa lfa
40
42
12
I/
2/
14
10
8
S i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from the u n tr e a te d check a t th e 5% l e v e l .
V alues r e p r e s e n t the average emergence o f 6 r e p l i c a t i o n s .
P l o t s were plowed out b e fo re counts could be made.
- 45 -
Table XVI.
T e st
No.
9
9
13
8
Crop
Mean p e r c e n t emergence in la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s of
c h e m ic a lly t r e a t e d and u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a and c r e s te d
w h e a tg ra ss in s o i l s o f 5 p re v io u s cropping h i s t o r i e s
. ( t e s t s 8, 9 and 13).
No. of
Sample s l /
C re ste d
w h e a tg ra ss
C hem ically
tre a ted ^ /
U n tre a te d
•
60
Previous crop on s o i l
Small
d r a in A l f a l f a G rass
Corn
63
Fallow
20
56
70
60
67
53
' Average
80
60
58
65
69
69
68 '
A lfa lfa
C hem ically
tre a ted ^ /
U n tre a te d
60
20
32
18
18
16
41
33
16
27
14
Average
80
25
17
25
21
A lfa lfa
C hem ically
tre a ted ^ /
U n tre a te d
40
40
37
16
28
25
48
12
■ 25
34
17
Average
80
27
20
33
37
26
A lfa lfa
C hem ically
tre a ted ^ /
U n tre a te d
60
20
53
20
43
20
54
57
30
58
31
Average
80
37
32
45
44
45
63
30
36
40
36
70 .
67
•i/ Number o f r e p l i c a t i o n s t o e s t a b l i s h th e means shown.
2 J Average o f 3 chemical t r e a t m e n t s , A ra sa n 5Spergon, and P it ts b u r g h
B-856.
■
P i t t s b u r g h B-856 o nly.
- 4.6 -
Table XVII.
A n a ly sis o f v a ria n c e o f P itts b u r g h B-856 t r e a t e d and
u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a emergence in la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s
which compared 5 p re v io u s cro p p in g h i s t o r i e s o f s o i l ,
2 m o istu re l e v e l s , and 2 te m p e ra tu re s ( t e s t 13).
Source of
V ariatio n
Temperature
Chemical seed tre a tm e n t
M oisture l e v e l
P rev io u s crop on s o i l
Temperature x chemical seed tr e a tm e n t
Temperature x m oisture l e v e l
Temperature x p re v io u s crop on s o i l
Chemical seed tr e a tm e n t x m o istu re l e v e l
Chemical seed tr e a tm e n t x p re v io u s crop .
on s o i l
M oisture l e v e l x p re v io u s crop on s o i l
Temperature x chemical seed tr e a tm e n t
x m o istu re le v e l
Temperature x m o istu re l e v e l x p re v io u s
crop on s o i l •
Temperature x chemical seed tre a tm e n t
x previous* crop on s o i l
Chemical seed tr e a tm e n t x m o istu re le v e l
x p re v io u s crop on s o i l
Temperature x chemical seed tr e a tm e n t
x m o istu re l e v e l x p re v io u s crop
on s o i l ' .
E r ro r
Degrees of
Freedom
"Mean
Square
I
I
I
4
I
I
4
I
156.80
7,182.05**
22,111.25**
687.24**
273.80*
3.20
364.30**
4,71 2 .4 5 * *
4
4
66,36
283.50**
I
204.80
4
198.91*
4
110.80
4
135.95.,,.-.,
4
40
13.85
58.00
* S i g n i f i c a n t a t 5% l e v e l .
** S i g n i f i c a n t a t 1% l e v e l .
Cl."'
- 47 -
w h e a tg ra s s .
A l f a l f a emergence was low est on a l f a l f a s o i l w h ile c r e s te d
w h e atg rass emergence was lo w est on sm all g r a i n s o i l .
The in flu e n c e o f te m p e ra tu re on emergence o f c h em ica lly t r e a t e d
and u n tr e a te d seed p la n te d in s o i l s of 5 p re v io u s cropping h i s t o r i e s was
i n v e s t i g a t e d in 2 t e s t s o f a l f a l f a .
Temperature was v a r ie d so t h a t one
h a l f o f th e samples were h e ld a t 12© c. f o r 10 days and th e o th e r one
h a l f were h e ld a t 8° f o r 10 days.
This 10-day p e rio d was preceded by a
2-day p e rio d a t 20° and was follow ed by a 10-day p e rio d at. 20°-. . In s o i l s
in
which sm all g r a i n , a l f a l f a , and g r a s s were p re v io u s ly grown,
emergence was h ig h e r when th e samples were h e ld fo r 10 days a t 12°.
In
. s o i l s in which corn and f a llo w were p r e v io u s ly grown, emergence was
h ig h e r a t th e 8° h o ld in g te m p e ra tu re .
In t e s t 13, tr e a tm e n t b e n e f i t s
were most s t r i k i n g a t th e lower te m p e ra tu re .
f e c t tr e a tm e n t r e s u l t s
Temperature d id no t a f ­
in t e s t 8 (Table X V III).
I t a p p ears from th e s e r e s u l t s t h a t th e crop p r e v io u s ly grown in
a s o i l may be a f a c t o r in d e term in in g how many s e e d lin g s w i l l emerge when
a l f a l f a or c r e s t e d w h e a tg ra s s are p la n te d .
Emergence in s o i l p re v io u s ly
cropped t o a l f a l f a was c o n s i s t e n t l y lower th a n emergence in th e o th e r
s o i l s t e s t e d (Table XVI).
Temperature and m oisture may in f lu e n c e the
e f f e c t s o f s o i l s of d i f f e r e n t p re v io u s c ro p p in g s .
Chemical seed t r e a t - .
ment d id n o t overcome th e a p p a re n t e f f e c t s o f p rev io u s cropping h i s t o r y
of s o i l .
............................. 48 -
Table XVIII.
.......................................
The e f f e c t of te m p e ratu re on emergence o f ch em ically
t r e a t e d and u n tr e a te d a l f a l f a seed p la n te d in the
la b o r a t o r y in s o i l s o f 5 p re v io u s cropping h i s t o r i e s
( t e s t s 8 and 1 3 ).
Previous crop
on S o il
Chemical
Seed
Treatm ent
Small g r a in
T reated
44
55
32
41
U n tre a ted
13
26
10
18
T reated
52
35
34
22
U n tre a te d
10
30
8
16
T reated
46
61
44
35
U n tre a te d
31
41
20
30
T reated
67
45
58
40
U n tre a te d
37
24
33
16
T rea te d
66
49
35
32
U n tre a te d
37
26
16
14
A lfa lfa
G rass
Corn
Fallow
•
' T e s t no. B i /
80 3/ 120
■T est no, 132/
80 3/
120
i / Each v a lu e r e p r e s e n t s an average f o r 2 samples and 2 m o istu re l e v e l s .
■=/ C hem ically t r e a t e d v a lu e s r e p r e s e n t an average fo r 2 samples and 3
chemical seed t r e a t m e n t s , A rasan, Spergon, and P it ts b u r g h B-856, Un­
t r e a t e d v a lu e s r e p r e s e n t an average of 2 samples.
3 / Temperature a t which samples were h e l d f o r 10 days fo llo w in g a 2-day
p e rio d a t 20° C. and p re c ed in g a 10-day p e rio d a t 20°.
- 49 -
(
The E f f e c t o f Treatm ent on D i f f e r e n t Crop Species
The e f f e c t o f chemical tr e a tm e n t on seed o f 10 g r a s s e s and 10
legum es.w as_s tu d ie d in f i e l d . . t e s t s ', in l a b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s , and in
s ta n d a rd l a b o r a t o r y g e rm in a tio n t e s t s .
F ie ld t e s t s o f the 20 s p e c ie s r e v e a le d no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s
in response t o tr e a t m e n t .
A ll th r e e chem icals were in c lu d e d in t h i s
t e s t (Table XIX).
P i t t s b u r g h B-856 was th e only chemical used in la b o r a t o r y s o i l com­
p a r is o n s o f th e 20 s p e c i e s .
G ra sse s were t e s t e d in s o i l p r e v io u s ly crop­
ped to fa llo w and legumes were t e s t e d in s o i l p r e v io u s ly cropped to
a lfa lfa .
T rea te d seed emergence was s i g n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r th a n u n tre a te d
seed emergence.
A ll cro p s responded s i m i l a r l y t o tre a tm e n t (Table XIX),
G erm ination o f smooth brom egrass, tim o th y , a l s i k e c lo v e r , w hite
c lo v e r , and la d in o c lo v e r was g r e a t l y reduced by Spergon tr e a tm e n t in
sta n d a rd g e rm in a tio n t e s t s .
G erm ination o f c e r t a i n o th e r c ro p s was r e ­
duced t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t fo llo w in g tr e a tm e n t w ith Spergon (Table XX),
G erm ination o f la d in o c lo v e r and b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l in c o n tr o lle d
m o istu re b l o t t e r t e s t s was lowered s i g n i f i c a n t l y by Spergon tr e a tm e n t,
A ls ik e c l o v e r , a l f a l f a , and tim o th y g e rm in a tio n was u n a ffe c te d by
Spergon tr e a tm e n t in th e s e t e s t s (Table XXI).
D iff e re n c e s in germina­
t i o n of S p e rg o n - tre a te d a l s i k e c lo v e r and tim o th y seed in s ta n d a rd g e r­
m in a tio n t e s t s and in c o n t r o l l e d m oisture b l o t t e r t e s t s w i l l be no ted .
This may have been because d i f f e r e n t seed l o t s o f th e se cro p s were used
- 50 -
Table XIX.
P e rc e n t emergence of .10 g r a s s e s and 10 legumes t r e a t e d
w ith d i f f e r e n t seed t r e a t i n g compounds and t e s t e d in
th e f i e l d and l a b o r a t o r y .
Chemical
Treatm ent
I n te rm e d ia te
w h e atg rass
A lta fescue
Slender
w h e a tg ra ss
R ussian
w ild ry e
Smooth
bromegrass
C rested
w h e a tg ra ss
Green need le
grass
Reed canary
grass
Orchard g r a s s
Timothy
Average f o r
10 a r a s s e s
A lfa lfa
Red c lo v e r
Sw eetclover
A ls ik e c lo v e r
White c lo v e r
Ladino c lo v e r
B ir d s f o o t
tre fo il
S traw b erry
c lo v e r
S ic k le
mi Ik v etch
C ic er
mi Ik v etch
Average f o r
10 lequmes
_
_____
F ie ld t e s t s
______
A ra- S perP itt.
Unsan
gon_____ B-856
tre a te d
L aboratory
S o il t e s t s
P itt.
UnB-856
tre a te d
35
21
37
30
79
71
55
21
16
23
59
17
16
20
12
21
15
19
27
76
52
66
52
20
14
13
17
59
53
9
7
4
6
19
4
7
13
4
11
8
5
9
9
7
9
13
10
34
36
35
24
18
20
14
15
38
8
15
2
16
16
28
I
4
4
15
16
21
4
4
4
18
15
16
45
6
4
2
53**
59
53
64
46
2
5
4
7
2
2
48
28
41
24
31
29
'
67
31
25
39
32
68
41
46
33
61
54
7
27
14
9
6
50
42
I
2
I
5
2
4
5
6
6
15
11
11
9
10
11
■46**
34
28
69
** S i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from th e u n t r e a t e d check a t th e 1% l e v e l .
r
.................................. -_51_ -
Table XX.
P e rc e n t normal s p r o u ts i n . s t a n d a r d la b o r a to r y g e rm in a tio n
t e s t s o f 20 crop s p e c ie s c h e m ic a lly t r e a t e d w ith d i f f e r e n t
seed t r e a t i n g compounds.
Cr on s
I n te rm e d ia te
w h e a tg ra ss
A lta fescue
S len d er
w h e a tg ra s s
R ussian
w ild ry e
Smooth
bromegrass
C re sted
w h e atg rass
Green n e ed le
grass
Reed canary
grass
Orchard g r a s s
Timothv
^Average f o r
10 g r a s s e s
A lfa lfa
Red c lo v e r
Sw eetcloyer
A ls ik e c lo v e r
White c lo v e r
Ladino c lo v e r
B ir d s f o o t
tre fo il
S tra w b e rry
c lo v e r
S ic k le
miIk v etch
C ic e r
miIk v e tc h
Average fo r
10 legumes
*
t Arasan
Chemical tr e a tm e n t
Soergon
P itt.B - 8 5 6
U n tre a te d
93
94
93
95
97
93
91
95
90
88
86
91
77
68
70
67
82
73
77
90
83
81
87
90
43
48
43
63
62
90
37
63
89
93
64
85
87
88
.74
83
79
76
83
88
77*
78
76
91
63
51
44
71
65
56
50
95
77
98
89
67
60
3
2
4
5
12
I
4
5
66
52*
65
65
80
80
82
96
76
97
' 80
76
83
93
79
98
91
70
56
S i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from the u n tr e a te d check a t th e 5% l e v e l
- 52
Table XXI.
The mean p e r c e n t g e rm in a tio n of 4 and 5 crops r e s p e c t i v e l y
in t e s t s 10 and 11 when t r e a t e d w ith 4 chem icals and
germ inated on b l o t t e r s . a t 2 m oisture l e v e l s .
Crocs
Arasan
Chemical seed "treatment
P itt.B - 8 5 6
U n tre a ted .
Soerqon
T e s t 10
A ls ik e c lo v e r
92
90
88
A lfa lfa
91
92
91
Ladino c lo v e r
91
58
92
92
B ird sfo o t t r e f o i l
70
49
71
71
A ls ik e c lo v e r
91
77
75
79
A lfa lfa
85
87
81
90
86
'55
45
57
78
20
43
21
76
85
83
90
90
,
91
T e st 11
Ladino c lo v e r
B ir d s f o o t t r e f o i l
Timothy
- 53 -
in the d i f f e r e n t t e s t s or because d i f f e r e n t . r a t e s (ex cess in both c a s e s)
o f tr e a tm e n t e x i s t e d in th e two t e s t s .
A l f a l f a and c r e s te d w h e a tg ra ss were t e s t e d th ro u g h o u t t h i s stu d y .
D if f e r e n c e s between emergence of t r e a t e d and u n tr e a te d c r e s te d wheatg r a s s were n o t s i g n i f i c a n t in any of th e f i e l d t e s t s .
A l f a l f a emer­
gence was in c re a s e d in one f i e l d t e s t (T able XV) and was d e c re a se d in
one f i e l d t e s t (Table I ) .
In la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s , tr e a tm e n t in c re a s e d
a l f a l f a emergence more th a n i t in c re a s e d c r e s t e d w h e atg rass emergence
(T ab les I and XVI).
C re ste d w h e atg rass appeared t o be b e t t e r capable
o f w ith s ta n d in g th e c o ld , wet c o n d itio n s o f the t e s t s .
i
p l a i n i t s la c k o f resp o n se tP t r e a tm e n t.
This may ex-
- 54 -
DISCUSSION
Three seed t r e a t i n g c h e m ic a ls, P it ts b u r g h B-856, A rasan, and Spergon, were compared in t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
on the market f o r a number o f y e a r s .
mental s ta g e .
Arasan and Spergon have been
P i t t s b u r g h B-856 i s in th e e x p e r i­
P itts b u r g h B-856 and Arasan appeared t o be more e f f e c t i v e
f u n g ic id e s th a n Spergon as seed t r e a t i n g compound's fo r a l f a l f a and
c r e s te d w h e a tg ra ss when compared in th e la b o r a t o r y .
A ll t h r e e chemicals
produced s e e d lin g emergence s i g n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r th a n t h a t o f th e un­
t r e a t e d check in th e s e t e s t s .
In b a c t e r i a colony count t e s t s made on ag ar p l a t e s , P itts b u r g h
B-856 was th e most t o x i c t o Rhizobium and Spergon the l e a s t .
This i n ­
d i c a t e s t h a t P it ts b u r g h B-856 and Arasan are s tr o n g e r f u n g ic id e s th an
Spergon and s u p p o rts th e r e s u l t s Of chemical comparisons in th e la b o ra ­
to ry s o il t e s t s .
, I t might be ex p ec te d t h a t a chemical would k i l l bene­
f i c i a l b a c t e r i a j u s t as i t w i l l k i l l seed or s o i l borne path o g en s.
It
cannot be s a id t h a t seed tr e a tm e n t compounds and legume b a c t e r i a are
co m p atib le.
F u n g ic id e s w i l l k i l l b a c t e r i a .
However, r e s u l t s in t h i s
s tu d y , as w e ll as in o th e r s t u d i e s ( l , 3, 8, 9, 15, 1 8 ), i n d i c a t e t h a t
seed tr e a tm e n ts and b a c t e r i a l in o c u la n ts can be used c o n c u r r e n tly w ith ­
out re d u c in g n o d u la tio n .
I t i s n o t known w hether t h i s i s because of
la c k of d i r e c t c o n ta c t between chemical and b a c t e r i a , s l o w - k i l l i n g
a c t i o n of th e f u n g ic id e s , or o th e r r e a s o n s .
Stan d ard l a b o r a t o r y g e rm in a tio n t e s t s in d ic a te d o c c a s io n a l low ering
o f g e rm in a tio n by e x c e s s Spergon tr e a tm e n t.
This e f f e c t was n o t e v id e n t
- 55 -
in s o i l t e s t s o f th e same seed l o t .
A d d itio n a l t e s t i n g i s n e c e s s a ry t o
determ in e i f t h i s p r e s e n t s a m arketing problem o f S p e rg o n - tre a te d seed.
Spergon adhered t o seeds b e t t e r th a n P it ts b u r g h B-856 and P i t t s ­
burgh B-856 adhered b e t t e r th a n A rasan, th e r a t i o being about 5 ; 3 s I .
The amount o f chemical s t i c k i n g t o seed a l s o v a r ie d w ith th e crop s p e c ie s
and l o t s w ith in crop s p e c i e s .
An e x ce ss o f chemical h as been a p p lie d to
seed in some seed tr e a tm e n t s t u d i e s .
The evidence h e re i n d i c a t e s t h a t
a t t e n t i o n sh o u ld be giv en t o dosage r a t e .
When an e x cess i s u sed , th e re
w i l l always be a q u e s tio n o f w hether d i f f e r e n c e s found are due t o kind
o f chemical or t o amount o f chemical on th e seed.
F i e l d t e s t s were made in both 1955 and 1956.
In 1955, growing con­
d i t i o n s were n e a r l y id e a l and s e e d lin g s emerged promptly a f t e r th e seed
was p l a n t e d .
In 1956, r a i n f e l l s h o r t l y a f t e r th e seed was p la n te d ,
p ro v id in g ample m o istu re f o r g e rm in a tio n .
Following the r a i n , a h ard
c r u s t formed over the ground and th e s o i l became v ery d ry .
c o u n ts in 1956 w ere, t h e r e f o r e , v e ry low.
Emergence
F i e l d r e s u l t s in most i n (
s t a n c e s showed no b e n e f i t t o a r i s e from t r e a t m e n t .
I f only f i e l d t e s t s
had been made in t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n , l i t t l e ' w o u l d have been le a rn e d a bout th e e f f e c t s o f chemical seed tr e a tm e n t on forage c ro p s .
This
p o i n t s Out th e v a lu e o f a method o f t e s t i n g in s o i l in th e la b o r a to r y
where p la n t i n g and growing c o n d itio n s can be c o n t r o l l e d .
was developed d u rin g th e course of t h i s s tu d y .
Such a.|method
I
\
x -.
- 56 -
Seedsmen are concerned w ith th e tim e o f the y ear t h a t seed should
be t r e a t e d .
I t i s much more co n v en ien t t o t r e a t seed d u rin g th e slac k
w in te r seaso n th a n d u rin g th e s p rin g r u s h .
Data c o l l e c t e d in t h i s study
i n d i c a t e t h a t ap p ly in g A rasan , Spergon9 or P it ts b u r g h B-856 t o seed up
t o a y ear ahead of p la n t i n g time w i l l n o t reduce th e v i a b i l i t y of the
seed or th e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f th e f u n g ic id e s .
Whether or n o t t o recommend chemical seed tr e a tm e n t o f fo rag e crops
in Montana must s t i l l be d e c id e d .
There i s evidence b o th f o r and a g ain st,
These p o i n t s must be c o n sid e re d in making th e f i n a l d e c is io n :
1.
When s e e d lin g s grow r a p i d l y a f t e r g e rm in a tio n ,
t r e a tm e n t i s n o t l i k e l y t o be o f any g r e a t b e n e f i t .
2.
When m o istu re i s a l i m i t i n g f a c t o r , s ta n d s may be
d e c re a se d by chemical seed t r e a tm e n t.
3.
When seeds are p la n te d in u n fa v o ra b le environm ents
f o r g e rm in a tio n and grow th, chemical tre a tm e n t may
mean th e d i f f e r e n c e between a good s ta n d and a com­
p l e t e s ta n d f a i l u r e .
4.
The seed t r e a t i n g chemical u sed , th e crop being
p l a n t e d , th e crop p r e v io u s ly grown i n th e s o i l , th e
s o i l m o istu re l e v e l , and th e te m p e ratu re t o which th e
seed i s s u b je c te d a f t e r p la n tin g a l l in flu e n c e the
b e n e f i t s t h a t may a r i s e from chem ical seed tr e a tm e n t
■ o f fo rag e c ro p s .
57 -
SUMMARY
_
_
F i e l d and la b o r a t o r y t e s t s were made in Bozeman, Montana, in 1955
and 1956 t o determ ine th e e f f e c t of chemical seed tr e a tm e n t upon g ra s s e s
and sm all-see d ed legumes grown i n Montana.
Comparisons were made o f P it ts b u r g h B-856, A rasan, and Spergon
f u n g i c i d a l compounds.
S eed lin g emergence o f a l f a l f a and c r e s t e d w heat-
g r a s s in la b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s was in c re a s e d more by tr e a tm e n t w ith
P it t s b u r g h B-856 and Arasan th a n by Spergon tr e a tm e n t when r a t e s of
tr e a tm e n t were the same f o r a l l ch em ica ls.
Arasan appeared t o be the
b e s t seed tr e a tm e n t compound f o r c r e s te d w h e a tg ra s s , and P i t ts b u r g h
B-856 appeared t o be th e b e s t f o r a l f a l f a .
Treatment was o f more value
in c o ld , wet s o i l th a n i n c o ld , dry s o i l .
There was an i n d i c a t i o n t h a t e x ce ss Spergon tre a tm e n t may reduce
sta n d a rd g e rm in a tio n b l o t t e r t e s t counts o f c e r t a i n c ro p s .
This e f f e c t
was n o t d e te c te d in s o i l t e s t s .
Spergon adhered t o seeds b e t t e r th a n P it ts b u r g h B-856, and P i t t s ­
burgh B-856 adhered b e t t e r th a n Arasan when an e x ce ss o f chem ical was
a p p lie d .
The r a t i o was ap p ro x im ately 5 : 3 : I .
V i a b i l i t y o f seed t r e a t e d w ith A rasan, Spergon, or P itts b u r g h B-856
I y ear b e fo re p la n t i n g was n o t low ered.
The fu n g ic id e s were s t i l l e f ­
f e c t i v e a f t e r I y ear on see d .
F i e l d t e s t s showed a p p a re n t c o m p a t i b i l i t y of a l f a l f a and b i r d s f o o t
t r e f o i l Rhizobium t o th e f u n g ic id e s used.
B ir d s f o o t t r e f o i l m a tu r ity
d a te was h a ste n e d and degree o f n o d u la tio n was in c re a s e d when th e seed
- 58 -
was in o c u la te d w ith Rhizobium.
re su lts.
Chemical tr e a tm e n t d id n o t a f f e c t th e se
In a g ar colony count t e s t s , P itts b u r g h . B-856 was the. most to x ic
t o b i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l Rhizobium and Spergon was th e l e a s t t o x i c .
The e f ­
f e c t of A rasan was i n te r m e d ia te .
The crop p r e v io u s ly grown in th e s o i l appeared t o a f f e c t th e number
o f a l f a l f a and c r e s t e d w h e a tg ra ss s e e d lin g s t h a t emerged in f i e l d and
la b o ra to ry s o il t e s t s .
Temperature and m o istu re l e v e l were found to in ­
flu e n c e th e a p p a re n t e f f e c t o f p re v io u s cro p p in g .
Although chemical seed
tr e a tm e n t in c r e a s e d emergence of a l f a l f a s i g n i f i c a n t l y in a l l s o i l s in
l a b o r a t o r y s o i l t e s t s , i t d id n o t overcome t]ie a p p a re n t e f f e c t o f p re ­
v io u s cro p p in g .
The 2 0 ’'crop s p e c ie s t e s t e d , r e p r e s e n t i n g g r a s s e s and legum es. grown
in Montana, a l l responded fa v o ra b ly t o seed tr e a tm e n t w ith P itts b u r g h '
B-856, when grown in c o ld , wet s o i l .
\
- 59 -
LITERATURE CITED
1.
A l l i s o n , Jo Lewis and J . H, T o r r ie .
E f f e c t of s e v e r a l seed pro­
t e c t a n t s on g e rm in a tio n and s ta n d s o f v a rio u s forage legumes.
P h y to p a th o
2.
34:
799-804.
1944.
A s s o c ia tio n of O f f i c i a l Seed A n a ly s ts .
R ules f o r t e s t i n g see d s.
Proc. Assoc. O ff. Seed A nal. 44: . 31-78.
3.
B u c h h o ltz , W alter F.
1954.
Seed tr e a tm e n t as a c o n tr o l f o r damping=
o f f o f a l f a l f a and o th e r legumes. (A b s t r . ') Fhytopath.
26: 88.
1936.
4.
C h ilto n , S . . J . P. and R. J . G arb er.
s ta n d s o f some fo rag e legumes.
83.
5.
E f f e c t of seed tr e a tm e n t on
J o u r. Amer. Soc. Agron, 33:
75-
1941.
F o r s y th , Dwight D. and Max L, S c h u s te r .
on f l a x s e e d lin g s caused by Spergon.
Abnormal l e a f form ation
Agron. J o u r. 35:
733-735.
1943.
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17»
61
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1949.
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