Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of differences related to weed pressures, which will be discussed further
in Chapter 11.
Storage temperature is very important in the tropics. In many equa-
torial countries, metal ocean-freight containers are used for storage, but
temperatures in such containers exposed to the sun can easily reach 60
C,
which destroys turf-grass seed. Seed should never be stored in metal
containers or anywhere else where such high temperatures may occur.
Turf-grass seed should be purchased only from reliable sources and
should retain the seed label supplied by the producer (Fig. 4.6). The label
may vary slightly in design, but it always supplies essential information
about species, variety, germination rate, count of weed seeds, impurities,
seeds origin, year of production and the producer's name.
8
Seeding time
In tropical climates seeding can take place at any time of the year. In the
humid tropics, seeding during the peak of heavy rains should be avoided
because seed can be lost to run-off. In the dry tropics, the periods of driest
weather should be avoided unless dependable irrigation is available.
Seeding rate
Seeding rate depends upon turf-grass species, germination rate, germin-
ation conditions and the desired rate of establishment. Table 4.1 presents
The germination
figure indicates the
percentage of pure
seed that germinated
as of the test date
and that can be
expected to
germinate and grow.
The purity figure
indicates the percentage,
by weight, of pure seed
of each component in the
mixture. Not all the pure
seed is necessarily alive.
Centipede grass
seeds
Pure seed
97.56% Centipede grass
0.21% Weed seed
2.23% Inert material
Noxious weeds: none found
Origin
China
Germination
89%
The weed-seed figure
indicates the percentage,
by weight, of weed seeds
in the package. Weed
seed is any seed that
has not been included in
other 'pure seed'
categories.
Net Wt. 10 kg
Lot No. 2829123
Test Date: Aug. 2005
The test date on
the seed label
should be within
the last 18 months.
China Seed Company
Xian, China
River Street 111
Inert material is the
percentage of material in
the container that does
not consist of seeds.
The noxious weeds figure
is given in many countries.
It is the percentage of
seed of species legally
defined as undesirable.
Name and address of the
company providing the seed.
Fig. 4.6. Interpreting seed labels.
