Sowing depth of annual ryegrass seed on different substrates as a vigor test

Abstract: Annual ryegrass seeds having low physiological quality can lead to the formation of pastures with undesirable plant stands for soil cover and forage utilization pastures. Thus, the objective of this study was proposing a vigor test to classify annual ryegrass seeds. For that, different sowing depths (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 cm) over three substrates (sand, coconut fiber, and carbonized rice husk) were tested to differentiate the physiological quality of four seed lots of annual ryegrass cv. BRS Ponteio having similarities in germination and moisture. The seed lots were classified according to vigor through the field seedling emergence (FSE), 1,000-seeds weight, saturated salt accelerated aging, and germination first count. The 2.5 cm of sand sowing depth and 3.0 cm of coconut fiber sowing depth provided separation of seed lots in similar groups of those reported to FSE test through the seedling emergence and speed of seedling emergence tests.