The main thing that determines the germination rate of seeds and their maturity is their quality. However, everyone who is engaged in agriculture, can confidently say that no less important is the treatment of seeds before planting or as they say – “seed etching”.
Seed etching is understood as a targeted procedure, the main purpose of which is the economic and ecological protection of the seed. Special preparations (pesticides) and their combinations are used for this purpose. These defenses are aimed at two major enemies:
- Phytopathogens that live in the soil;
- Insect pests.
Complex fertilizers with trace elements are often used together with etchants.
What methods of seed etching
There are only a few known ways to perform seed etching:
- Dry etching is the simplest method, but it involves the use of special equipment. It occurs as a result of spraying in a special chamber, where the seeds of the powdered preparation are immersed. There is a disadvantage in this method – it is uneven application;
- Wet etching method is a counterpart of the previous one, but with a small amount of liquid (approximate water consumption per 1 ton of seeds is 5-10 liters). It is convenient in that it is possible to achieve a relatively uniform etching. However, the implementation also requires special equipment;
- Wet method or spraying – is carried out by finely dispersed spraying the product on the seeds. A water-based solution or a ready-made emulsion is used for etching. A disadvantage of this method is the need for subsequent drying of the seed;
- Watering or soaking – consists of temporarily placing the seeds in a solution or ready-made product for a certain period of time. Usually done before sowing. This method is inconvenient because it is not always possible to correctly calculate the amount of seeds and the concentration of the remedy;
- Gibrofobization – has some resemblance to polymerization. It consists in spraying a polymeric composition containing pesticides that envelop the seeds in a thin film. The advantage is that the seeds become resistant to low temperatures and are characterized by good germination. However, this method of processing is only feasible with special equipment.
Requirements for seeds and preparations
As for the seed material, their quality must meet current standards. They should also be well dried and mature – a guarantee of optimal germination rates.
As for the etchants and complex fertilizers with trace elements used, the main requirement is the quality of the preparation and compliance with concentration standards. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the effect of certain components of the remedy on a particular culture. It is also necessary to comply with all recommendations and standards for storage of products for pre-sowing preparation.
Safety rules
Even with such a minor (only at first glance) event, it is absolutely impossible to violate the safety rules for handling toxic substances. It is necessary to organize all the conditions of the dressing – the distance to the water source and residential facilities.
It is necessary to organize all the conditions of the dressing – the distance to the water source and residential facilities. In addition, the site must be concreted and have a sloping surface. If the etching takes place indoors, it is necessary to ensure optimal ventilation and have respiratory protection.
Only remembering all this, you can not only effectively protect your crops from pests and diseases, but also not to harm your health.
Articles on the topic: “Pre-sowing treatment of seeds”, “Seed etching of cereals”, “Liquid complex fertilizers with microelements”.
