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  <div class="title"><h1>1.3 - Gloves to help subsistence farmers</h1><br><h3 class="ch-owner">Mitchell van Schepen, University of Guelph, Canada</h3></div>
  <div class="title"><h3>1.3 - Soaking seeds before planting (seed priming)</h3><br><h3 class="ch-owner">Samantha Martin, University of Guelph, Canada</h3></div>
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<p>Suggested citation for this chapter.</p>
<p>Martin,S. (2022) Soaking seeds before planting (seed priming). In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org</p>
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       <h3 class="title-bg">Background</h3>
       <h1 class="title-bg">Introduction</h1>
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           <p>The world’s 1 billion women and girls participating in subsistence farming pull weeds by hand to improve their crops and also collect firewood for cooking, resulting in their hands becoming rough and sore (Figure 1). This can be caused by wood splinters being lodged into their skin (Schaffner, 2013). Pulling weeds for hours on end can peel away layers of skin (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). The hands of those farmers can also become dirty and smelly from planting seeds in the soil or spreading manure by hand. To avoid the common aforementioned problems as well as hand injuries, such as cuts and scrapes, they could wear gloves on their hands, see the second picture, (Schaffner, 2013). Gloves are very common in the modern world and can be used for construction, farming, and medical practices. Gloves provide a durable layer between the skin on your hands and whatever you are working with (Espasandín-Arias & Goossens, 2014). There are a few different materials used to make gloves, along with different sizes and grips. With over one billion women and girls working on farms around the world, this grueling work can be made safer and more efficient when wearing gloves.</p>
           <p>There are many problems that subsistence farmers face all over the world. One major problem that affects both yield and income equally is low germination rates for several important crops. “In the semi-arid tropics, … unpredictable and erratic rainfall, poor soils, [and] low quality seeds” contribute to low germination rates; so as a result, many farmers are forced to plant 2-3 seeds per hole while only expecting one of these seeds to properly establish itself in the soil (DFID, 2000). Poor crop establishment also occurs because these seedlings are unable to outcompete weeds for nutrients in the soil as well as for water and sunlight. The transition from seed to seedling is a very fragile one. If a seed is to grow properly, seeds must germinate and emerge, both fast and consistently in the field so that the seedlings can maximize the growing benefits from water, light and nutrients from the soil (CAZS, 2007). A very simple intervention that farmers can use to improve germination as well as strengthen their seedlings is to soak their seeds in water before planting them. This chapter will describe seed soaking and its benefits, provide a breakdown of methods including correct usage, discuss the issues with seed soaking, as well as provide alternatives to using water to soak seeds.</p>  
 
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          <p>Rubber and cloth are the two main kinds of gloves produced (Melco, 2016). They both have their own benefits and drawbacks respectively. A benefit from rubber gloves is their ability to resist water from coming in contact with a farmer's skin, see part two, (Espasandín-Arias & Goossens, 2014). While cloth gloves can be beneficial because they can draw moisture away from their hands and can be easily washed to be cleaned. Because rubber gloves are usually meant to be disposed of after single use they tend to be cheaper to make and thus cheaper to buy. Yet some rubber gloves can be made thicker to reuse and are slightly more durable (Melco, 2016). Cloth gloves are designed to be washed after being used and last a long time under normal working conditions.</p>
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          <p>Along with the different materials gloves are made of, there are also different arm lengths. Some gloves are cut off just in front or around the wrist. While others can be up to and over the elbow and everywhere in between (Melco, 2016). The benefits of the shorter gloves is comfort, no bunching around wrist or elbow, and they can be quickly put on or removed. The benefits of the long gloves are more protection, the entire forearm will be covered. All the while there is less of a chance of getting debris in their gloves because the opening is farther away from what you are working with. Farmers can also work in deeper water or mud with the long rubber gloves without getting your hands wet.</p>
      <h1 class="title-bg">Description of seed soaking</h1>
 
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          <p>When working with smooth items such as hoes and some fruits and vegetables they can be slippery (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). A way to help farmer's hold on to the tools is to get gloves with grips (Melco, 2016). Both rubber and cloth gloves can have grips. Rubber gloves will have ridges in the molds to form grips and granular materials can be added to the outside before drying (Melco, 2016). Another option is to make the rubber gloves out of a non-slip rubber (Melco, 2016). Because cloth alone does not provide grip, cloth gloves must be dipped in liquid rubber to be able to grip smooth objects. The rubber used for grips on cloth gloves can either be non-slip smooth rubber or be rigid (Melco, 2016). </p>
<p>Seed soaking is a very simple intervention to both understand and to put into practice.  This practice includes soaking seeds in water for a prescribed amount of time, drying them, and then planting. “Seeds that are pre-hydrated and then surface-dried have a better chance of absorbing water from the soil because they germinate more quickly and the roots they produce grow faster, seeking moisture deep in the ground” (DFID, 2007). Once seeds are soaked and dried, they can either be immediately sown into a field, or they can be kept in storage for several days if weather conditions delay planting (DFID, 2007).</p>
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      <h1 class="title-bg">Benefits to seed soaking</h1>
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<p>There are many benefits to soaking seeds before planting. First, soaking seeds mainly increases germination rates among many different crops. Studies and farmers have reported, “that primed crops emerge faster, grow more vigorously, and in some cases use less fertilizer” (DFID, 2000). These effects allow seedlings to outcompete weeds for water, light and nutrients from the soil, which in turn suppresses weeds and makes crops less susceptible to disease (CAZS, 2007; Anwar et al., 2012). Next, because uniform germination is much higher when seeds are soaked, farmers can increase their overall yield because, rather than planting 2-3 seeds per hole, they can plant 1 seed per hole, thus giving farmers more seeds to plant, and more yield (reported yield increases have ranged from 20% to >200%) (CAZS, 2007). After soaking chickpea seeds for 16 hours and then drying them to approximately 30% moisture content, there was a reported 40% yield improvement than when seeds were not primed (Ghassemi-Golezani, 2008). Furthermore, soaked seeds are reported to emerge faster (approximately 1-3 days sooner), flower and mature earlier (up to 10 days sooner), which means that if there is a second crop being planted, it can also be planted sooner (CAZS, 2007; Ibrahim, et al., 2013). In a study conducted regarding soaking wheat seeds, seeds that were not soaked reached 50% emergence in approximately 5.5 days, whereas seeds that were soaked for 8 hours reached the same stage at approximately 3.5 days (Murungu, 2011). Upland rice also had similar results – when seeds were not soaked there was a 59% germination rate of seeds planted. However, when seeds were soaked for 12 hours and dried for 2 hours, there was a 78% germination rate among planted seeds (Ibrahim, et al., 2013). Moreover, this practice allows farmers to sort their seeds at the same time and remove those seeds that float to the top because they are deficient or diseased from those that sink to the bottom and should be planted (IRRI, 2016). Finally, there is essentially no cost and low-risk associated with seed soaking, so “it should be very attractive for farmers to prime their seed as a form of insurance” (Rajbhandari et al., 2014).</p>  
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       <h1 class="title-bg">How to: Seed soaking</h1>
       <h3 class="title-bg">Physical Protection</h3>
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          <p>Protection is the main benefit from using gloves. Repetitive motions, such as when pounding grain, can cause irritation to the skin. When collecting firewood the sticks and logs can scratch or cut the skin (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). Weeds can be rough and by scratching their hands many times they can become cut and sore (Espasandín-Arias & Goossens, 2014). By lifting and pulling heavy items the top layer of your skin will separate from the next, causing a blister, by wearing gloves they now will prevent blistering because the glove will act as the top layer of skin and prevent the actual skin from separating (Schaffner, 2013).  Manure has a lot of bacteria in it which are harmful if they are swallow, so keeping them away from the hands used to eat with is very beneficial (Furlong, et al., 2015). If farmers are working with firewood or in construction the cloth gloves will work better because they are more durable (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). The disposable rubber gloves would be the worst to use in this scenario because they are so thin, stick to jobs were the main goals are to keep hands dry and dirt free when using disposable rubber gloves.</p>
<p>Submerge seeds to be planted in a bucket of water.
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Once placed in water, remove the seeds that float to the top as they are diseased or defective and will not grow properly if planted.  
Consult a ‘safe-limit’ table to determine the proper amount of time to soak seeds. Do not soak for less or more time than is recommended.
Dry seeds after the soaking period, either by laying them in the sun or by using a cloth.
Sow seeds immediately, or store them in a dry location if sowing is delayed (IRRI, 2016).</p>  
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Correct usage</h1>
       <h3 style="background: #FBB03B;padding: 15px;font-weight: 600;color: #000;font-size: 22px;margin:unset;text-align:center;">Defense Against Moisture and Chemicals</h3>
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<p>The most important aspect of seed soaking has to do with the amount of time that the seeds are soaked for. In order for seed soaking to have a positive effect on germination, the seeds cannot be under or over soaked. If seeds are under soaked, they will not realize all the benefits of seed soaking and if seeds are over soaked, they have the potential to germinate before being planted. This causes new problems for subsistence farmers because they are no longer sowing seeds, but rather transplanting seedlings. The Centre for Arid Zone Studies at Bangor University researched the prime soaking time for many different tropical crops. Table 1 shows these recommended soaking times.</p>
          <p>Moisture blocking is a way gloves can prevent your skin from drying out and from getting too wet and dehydrating farmer's hands. By keeping the moisture from the hands inside the gloves they will prevent the skin from cracking and becoming infected (Schaffner, 2013). As well when working in wet conditions your hands can shrivel and become dehydrated if they are constantly in contact with water.</p>
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          <p>Pesticides can be absorbed by your skin and become harmful to the body, gloves provide an extra barrier to block them from entering in a farmer's body (Furlong, et al., 2015). Fertilizers such as nitrogen can also be caustic, and these are usually spread through broadcasting by hand. Mud can get under your nails and into cracked or cut skin and can infect a farmer's hands. Gloves will keep the mud out and keep hands clean. Both liquid pesticides and dry fertilizers can irritate skin if they come into contact with it (Kim, et al., 2013). Wearing the proper gloves, rubber ones in this case, can save their hands from becoming itchy (Keeble et al., 1996). Human skin can also absorb the pesticides which are harmful to your body, wearing gloves would prevent the pesticides from ever touching your skin.</p>
<p>The majority of crops require 8 hours of soaking before it will make a viable difference to their germination and growth. For most farmers, this would entail soaking the seeds overnight and then using the next day to dry them.</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Critical analysis</h1>
       <h3 class="title-bg">Wearable</h3>
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           <p>Comfortable gloves help farmer's work longer because their hands will not hurt from completing your task. Sizing is very important when finding comfortable gloves (Melco, 2016). Make sure gloves are the proper length and width, as not to restrict movement. There will be less pain from pulling weeds and they will be able to pull more weeds because they would not have to wait a long for the pain to subside between pulling each weed, because there will be no pain if wearing gloves (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). If farmer's find they are working hard and their hands start to sweat the gloves should be removed , dry your hands, and put on a new pair. Cloth gloves are more breathable then rubber ones, using them is another way to prevent hands from getting sweaty. The cloth gloves can also be softer and easier to clean, but are more restricting to movement due to their durability and tougher material. Since children will also be farming, smaller glove sizes can be found. Gloves are designed to fit a farmer's hand snugly, so children should not wear adult sized gloves when working. </p>
           <p>There are some issues that are associated with soaking seeds before planting. First, while it may not cost farmers much in terms of money, it does take time to soak the seeds and dry them. Many farmers are eager to plant when they anticipate the beginning of the rainy season, and are thus unwilling to wait the prescribed soaking and drying period for each crop. However, when seeds are initially planted, they spend a large amount of time simply absorbing water, so soaking seeds actually jumpstarts the planting process (DFID, 2000). As well, this does take extra labour to soak and dry seeds before planting them. However, it is important that seeds are dried properly, especially if farmers are using any form of sowing machinery, such as a jab planter. If seeds are wet, they will clump together and not plant properly. Many farmers are hesitant to put this practice into their collection of farming customs, especially because they find it difficult to believe that something so simple can have such an important and substantial difference (DFID, 2000). Despite that, much of the research has shown that by encouraging farmers to soak some of their seeds for the prescribed amount of time and plant them beside their seeds that were not soaked, these farmers were able to experiment and share the practice with other farmers in their area (DFID, 2000). There is a need for education for subsistence farmers so that they understand the great benefits that can be realized by such a simple and low-risk practice.<p>  
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Alternatives to water</h1>
       <h3 class="title-bg">Constraints To Adoption</h3>
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          <p>Gloves are very useful to farmers, but there can still be some drawbacks. Possible culturable taboos might vary from location to location. Gloves might seem feminine and not easily adopted by men in the community. Gloves act as a second, tougher skin, but they are not a farmer's skin and can slide around while working. This may feel odd and uncomfortable but farmers can get used to the new feeling over time. Gloves can come in many colours and thicknesses, which may make a farmer's hands look funny or larger. Human skin is very stretchy and flexible, while glove materials tend to be tougher than skin and will reduce movement, but not enough to hinder work. Rubber gloves can stretch well, but make hands sweat, while cloth gloves are breathable but reduce dexterity.</p>
<p>While soaking seeds in water alone provides many benefits to farmers, there are alternatives to water that could be used to supplement plant growth, especially in areas with sandy or nutrient deficient soils. Some important nutrients that have been identified that can be added to the water while soaking includes, in the case of legume seeds, phosphorous, molybdenum, zinc, and bacteria like rhizobia (DFID, 2007). This intervention “gives farmers better control because micronutrients [molybdenum and zinc] are difficult to apply evenly to the soil, [and] it also makes the amounts needed much smaller [because] they are absorbed directly by the primed seed” (DFID, 2007, p. 5). Adding nutrients directly to the water means that farmers can spend less money on fertilizers as well as spend less time spreading these fertilizers. This also means that these nutrients are applied evenly to all seeds and that their capacity to support plant growth is fully maximized.</p>  
          <p>Farmers can find gloves to use and get started from local vendors (European Commission For The Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease, 2016). Once you have completed your work for the day you can clean them are reuse them, or dispose of them if they were ripped or torn (Kim, et al., 2013). You can get gloves made of rubber and like materials as well as ones made of durable cloths. The thin rubber gloves tend to be made for a single use only. A trick that the European Commission For The Control Foot-And-Mouth Disease mentions that you can wear two pairs of rubber gloves at the same time for extra protection (European Commission For The Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease, 2016).</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">How to get started: Useful links</h1>
       <h3 class="title-bg">Helpful Links To Get Started </h3>
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          <p>Here are websites to find more information about how to obtain gloves:</p>
<p>Seed Priming – The GAIA Movement</p>
          <p>[https://www.alibaba.com/ Alibaba]</p>
<p>A sure bet: seed priming and participation – DFID: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08bf5ed915d3cfd00108a/RIU_pocketguide_9.pdf</p>
          <p>[https://www.indiamart.com/ Indiamart]</p>
<p>On-Farm Seed Priming: Soaking Times – CAZS Natural Resources</p>
          <p>[http://www.store.nzfarmsource.co.nz/ Store Nzfarmsource]</p>
<p>How to treat seeds (Rice seeds) – International Rice Research Institute:
          <p>[https://www.adenna.com Adenna]</p>
http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/index.php#seed-dormancy</p>
          <p>[https://www.farmcity.co.za/ Farmcity]</p>
<p>Priming gets rice off to a good start in upland Africa and Asia:
          <p>[https://www.crazystore.co.za/ Crazystore]</p>
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08be340f0b64974000e4a/PSP25.pdf</p>
<p>Seed priming makes good stands of maize the rule rather than the exception:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08bdded915d622c000f59/PSP28.pdf</p>
<p>A low-cost boost for crops in poor soils:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08bdee5274a31e0000e1e/PSP30.pdf</p>
<p>Seed priming in wheat, barley, sorghum, pearl and finger millet in South Asia and Africa:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08be3e5274a27b2000e2b/PSP27.pdf</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">References</h1>
       <h3 class="title-bg">Usefull Images</h3>
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          <p>1. Anwar, M. P., Juraimi, A. S., Puteh, A., Selamat, A., Rahman, M. M., & Samedani, B. (2012). Seed priming influences weed competitiveness and productivity of aerobic rice. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Science, 62(6), 499–509. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2012.662244</p>
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<p>2.CASZ, Centre for Arid Zone Studies. (2007). On-Farm Seed Priming: Soaking times. Retrieved from</p>
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<p>3.DFID, Department for International Development. (2000). An Old Technique - A Bucket of Water - Increases Crop Yields. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08d87e5274a31e00018f8/RLPSRReview8.pdf</p>
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<p>4.DFID, Department for International Development. (2007). A sure bet: seed priming and participation. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08bf5ed915d3cfd00108a/RIU_pocketguide_9.pdf</p>
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<p>5.Ghassemi-Golezani, K., Sheikhzadeh-Mosaddegh, P., & Valizadeh, M. (2008). Effects of Hydropriming Duration and Limited Irrigation on Field Performance of Chickpea. Research Journal of Seed Sciences, 1(1), 34–40. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjss.2008.34.40</p>
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<p>6.Ibrahim, N. D., Bhadmus, Z., & Singh, A. (2013). Hydro-Priming and Re-Drying Effects on Germination, Emergence and Growth of Upland Rice [Oryza sativa L.]. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 21(2), 157–164. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,shib&db=awn&AN=njbas-91698&site=ehost-live\nhttp://www.ajol.info/index.php/njbas/article/view/91698</p>
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<p>7.IRRI, International Rice Research Institute. (2016). How to treat seeds. Retrieved from http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/index.php#seed-dormancy</p>
<p>8.Murungu, F. S. (2011). Effects of seed priming and water potential on seed germination and emergence of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties in laboratory assays and in the field. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10(21), 4365–4371. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB10.1630</p>


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<p>9.Rajbhandari, N. P., Ransom, J. K., Adhikari, K., & Palmer, A. F. E. (2014). Sustainable maize production systems for Nepal. Kathmandu</p>
      <h3 class="title-bg">References</h3>
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          <p>Espasandín-Arias, M., & Goossens, A. (2014). Natural rubber gloves might not protect against skin penetration of methylisothiazolinone. Contact Dermatitis, 70(4), 249-251. doi:10.1111/cod.12221</p>
          <p>European Commission For The Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease. Suggested FMD PPE guidelines - Food and Agriculture, (2016)
          Food and Agriculture Organization. Rural women in household production: Increasing contributions and persisting drudgery. (2016).
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          <p>Furlong, M., Tanner, C. M., Goldman, S. M., Bhudhikanok, G. S., Blair, A., Chade, A., . . . Kamel, F. (2015). Protective glove use and hygiene habits modify the associations of specific pesticides with Parkinson's disease. Environment International, 75, 144-150. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.002</p>
          <p>Keeble, V. B., Correll, L., & Ehrich, M. (1996). Effect of Laundering on Ability of Glove Fabrics to Decrease the Penetration of Organophosphate Insecticides Through in vitro Epidermal Systems. J. Appl. Toxicol. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 16(5), 401-406. doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1263(199609)16:53.3.co;2-6</p>
          <p>Kim, J., Kim, J., Cha, E., Ko, Y., Kim, D., & Lee, W. (2013). Work-Related Risk Factors by Severity for Acute Pesticide Poisoning Among Male Farmers in South Korea. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 10(3), 1100-1112. doi:10.3390/ijerph10031100</p>
          <p>Melco, M. (2016). Gardening Gloves. Retrieved from [http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Gardening_Gloves Garden Lovetoknow]</p>
          <p>Schaffner, A. D. (2013). Minimizing Surgical Skin Incision Scars with a Latex Surgical Glove. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 37(2), 463-463. doi:10.1007/s00266-013-0071-y</p>
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Revision as of 16:32, 24 June 2022

1.3 - Soaking seeds before planting (seed priming)


Samantha Martin, University of Guelph, Canada

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Suggested citation for this chapter.

Martin,S. (2022) Soaking seeds before planting (seed priming). In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org

Introduction

There are many problems that subsistence farmers face all over the world. One major problem that affects both yield and income equally is low germination rates for several important crops. “In the semi-arid tropics, … unpredictable and erratic rainfall, poor soils, [and] low quality seeds” contribute to low germination rates; so as a result, many farmers are forced to plant 2-3 seeds per hole while only expecting one of these seeds to properly establish itself in the soil (DFID, 2000). Poor crop establishment also occurs because these seedlings are unable to outcompete weeds for nutrients in the soil as well as for water and sunlight. The transition from seed to seedling is a very fragile one. If a seed is to grow properly, seeds must germinate and emerge, both fast and consistently in the field so that the seedlings can maximize the growing benefits from water, light and nutrients from the soil (CAZS, 2007). A very simple intervention that farmers can use to improve germination as well as strengthen their seedlings is to soak their seeds in water before planting them. This chapter will describe seed soaking and its benefits, provide a breakdown of methods including correct usage, discuss the issues with seed soaking, as well as provide alternatives to using water to soak seeds.

Description of seed soaking

Seed soaking is a very simple intervention to both understand and to put into practice. This practice includes soaking seeds in water for a prescribed amount of time, drying them, and then planting. “Seeds that are pre-hydrated and then surface-dried have a better chance of absorbing water from the soil because they germinate more quickly and the roots they produce grow faster, seeking moisture deep in the ground” (DFID, 2007). Once seeds are soaked and dried, they can either be immediately sown into a field, or they can be kept in storage for several days if weather conditions delay planting (DFID, 2007).

Benefits to seed soaking

There are many benefits to soaking seeds before planting. First, soaking seeds mainly increases germination rates among many different crops. Studies and farmers have reported, “that primed crops emerge faster, grow more vigorously, and in some cases use less fertilizer” (DFID, 2000). These effects allow seedlings to outcompete weeds for water, light and nutrients from the soil, which in turn suppresses weeds and makes crops less susceptible to disease (CAZS, 2007; Anwar et al., 2012). Next, because uniform germination is much higher when seeds are soaked, farmers can increase their overall yield because, rather than planting 2-3 seeds per hole, they can plant 1 seed per hole, thus giving farmers more seeds to plant, and more yield (reported yield increases have ranged from 20% to >200%) (CAZS, 2007). After soaking chickpea seeds for 16 hours and then drying them to approximately 30% moisture content, there was a reported 40% yield improvement than when seeds were not primed (Ghassemi-Golezani, 2008). Furthermore, soaked seeds are reported to emerge faster (approximately 1-3 days sooner), flower and mature earlier (up to 10 days sooner), which means that if there is a second crop being planted, it can also be planted sooner (CAZS, 2007; Ibrahim, et al., 2013). In a study conducted regarding soaking wheat seeds, seeds that were not soaked reached 50% emergence in approximately 5.5 days, whereas seeds that were soaked for 8 hours reached the same stage at approximately 3.5 days (Murungu, 2011). Upland rice also had similar results – when seeds were not soaked there was a 59% germination rate of seeds planted. However, when seeds were soaked for 12 hours and dried for 2 hours, there was a 78% germination rate among planted seeds (Ibrahim, et al., 2013). Moreover, this practice allows farmers to sort their seeds at the same time and remove those seeds that float to the top because they are deficient or diseased from those that sink to the bottom and should be planted (IRRI, 2016). Finally, there is essentially no cost and low-risk associated with seed soaking, so “it should be very attractive for farmers to prime their seed as a form of insurance” (Rajbhandari et al., 2014).

How to: Seed soaking

Submerge seeds to be planted in a bucket of water. Once placed in water, remove the seeds that float to the top as they are diseased or defective and will not grow properly if planted. Consult a ‘safe-limit’ table to determine the proper amount of time to soak seeds. Do not soak for less or more time than is recommended. Dry seeds after the soaking period, either by laying them in the sun or by using a cloth. Sow seeds immediately, or store them in a dry location if sowing is delayed (IRRI, 2016).

Correct usage

The most important aspect of seed soaking has to do with the amount of time that the seeds are soaked for. In order for seed soaking to have a positive effect on germination, the seeds cannot be under or over soaked. If seeds are under soaked, they will not realize all the benefits of seed soaking and if seeds are over soaked, they have the potential to germinate before being planted. This causes new problems for subsistence farmers because they are no longer sowing seeds, but rather transplanting seedlings. The Centre for Arid Zone Studies at Bangor University researched the prime soaking time for many different tropical crops. Table 1 shows these recommended soaking times.

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The majority of crops require 8 hours of soaking before it will make a viable difference to their germination and growth. For most farmers, this would entail soaking the seeds overnight and then using the next day to dry them.

Critical analysis

There are some issues that are associated with soaking seeds before planting. First, while it may not cost farmers much in terms of money, it does take time to soak the seeds and dry them. Many farmers are eager to plant when they anticipate the beginning of the rainy season, and are thus unwilling to wait the prescribed soaking and drying period for each crop. However, when seeds are initially planted, they spend a large amount of time simply absorbing water, so soaking seeds actually jumpstarts the planting process (DFID, 2000). As well, this does take extra labour to soak and dry seeds before planting them. However, it is important that seeds are dried properly, especially if farmers are using any form of sowing machinery, such as a jab planter. If seeds are wet, they will clump together and not plant properly. Many farmers are hesitant to put this practice into their collection of farming customs, especially because they find it difficult to believe that something so simple can have such an important and substantial difference (DFID, 2000). Despite that, much of the research has shown that by encouraging farmers to soak some of their seeds for the prescribed amount of time and plant them beside their seeds that were not soaked, these farmers were able to experiment and share the practice with other farmers in their area (DFID, 2000). There is a need for education for subsistence farmers so that they understand the great benefits that can be realized by such a simple and low-risk practice.

Alternatives to water

While soaking seeds in water alone provides many benefits to farmers, there are alternatives to water that could be used to supplement plant growth, especially in areas with sandy or nutrient deficient soils. Some important nutrients that have been identified that can be added to the water while soaking includes, in the case of legume seeds, phosphorous, molybdenum, zinc, and bacteria like rhizobia (DFID, 2007). This intervention “gives farmers better control because micronutrients [molybdenum and zinc] are difficult to apply evenly to the soil, [and] it also makes the amounts needed much smaller [because] they are absorbed directly by the primed seed” (DFID, 2007, p. 5). Adding nutrients directly to the water means that farmers can spend less money on fertilizers as well as spend less time spreading these fertilizers. This also means that these nutrients are applied evenly to all seeds and that their capacity to support plant growth is fully maximized.

How to get started: Useful links

Seed Priming – The GAIA Movement

A sure bet: seed priming and participation – DFID: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08bf5ed915d3cfd00108a/RIU_pocketguide_9.pdf

On-Farm Seed Priming: Soaking Times – CAZS Natural Resources

How to treat seeds (Rice seeds) – International Rice Research Institute: http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/index.php#seed-dormancy

Priming gets rice off to a good start in upland Africa and Asia: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08be340f0b64974000e4a/PSP25.pdf

Seed priming makes good stands of maize the rule rather than the exception: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08bdded915d622c000f59/PSP28.pdf

A low-cost boost for crops in poor soils: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08bdee5274a31e0000e1e/PSP30.pdf

Seed priming in wheat, barley, sorghum, pearl and finger millet in South Asia and Africa: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08be3e5274a27b2000e2b/PSP27.pdf

References

1. Anwar, M. P., Juraimi, A. S., Puteh, A., Selamat, A., Rahman, M. M., & Samedani, B. (2012). Seed priming influences weed competitiveness and productivity of aerobic rice. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Science, 62(6), 499–509. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2012.662244

2.CASZ, Centre for Arid Zone Studies. (2007). On-Farm Seed Priming: Soaking times. Retrieved from

3.DFID, Department for International Development. (2000). An Old Technique - A Bucket of Water - Increases Crop Yields. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08d87e5274a31e00018f8/RLPSRReview8.pdf

4.DFID, Department for International Development. (2007). A sure bet: seed priming and participation. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08bf5ed915d3cfd00108a/RIU_pocketguide_9.pdf

5.Ghassemi-Golezani, K., Sheikhzadeh-Mosaddegh, P., & Valizadeh, M. (2008). Effects of Hydropriming Duration and Limited Irrigation on Field Performance of Chickpea. Research Journal of Seed Sciences, 1(1), 34–40. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjss.2008.34.40

6.Ibrahim, N. D., Bhadmus, Z., & Singh, A. (2013). Hydro-Priming and Re-Drying Effects on Germination, Emergence and Growth of Upland Rice [Oryza sativa L.]. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 21(2), 157–164. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,shib&db=awn&AN=njbas-91698&site=ehost-live\nhttp://www.ajol.info/index.php/njbas/article/view/91698

7.IRRI, International Rice Research Institute. (2016). How to treat seeds. Retrieved from http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/index.php#seed-dormancy

8.Murungu, F. S. (2011). Effects of seed priming and water potential on seed germination and emergence of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties in laboratory assays and in the field. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10(21), 4365–4371. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB10.1630

9.Rajbhandari, N. P., Ransom, J. K., Adhikari, K., & Palmer, A. F. E. (2014). Sustainable maize production systems for Nepal. Kathmandu

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