Comparison of Fluid Drilling and Establishment Techniques on Seedling Emergence and Crop Uniformity in Lettuce

Abstract

Fluid sowing pre-germinated lettuce seeds cvs Cobham Green and Avondefiance having radicles 1–2 mm in length gave earlier emergence and maturity than graded or ungraded seeds sown conventionally, especially early in the season. Final percentage emergence from pre-germinated seeds was, averaged over all sowings, c. 60% compared with 38% for both ungraded and weight-graded seeds. A significantly higher proportion of the mature crop could be cut at each of three successive harvests from fluid-sown pre-germinated seeds, when compared with untreated seeds sown conventionally and block-raised transplants, at some sowings but the proportion was significantly lower at others, and possible reasons for this are suggested.