Germination physiology of Carthamus oxyacantha

Muhammad Zeeshan Farid is MSc(hons) in Agronomy from University of Agriculture Faisalabad. He is currently working as Revenue Officer in Irrigation and Power Department, Punjab, Pakistan.He was honored to the President of The Debating Club and English Editor University Magazine(Kisht-E-Nau) UAF, Pakistan.He is hardworking and efficient agronomist.

Study was conducted to evaluate the effect of temperature, light, salinity, drought stress, field capacity, pH and sowing depth on germination of Carthamus oxyacantha M. Bieb. All experiments were laid out in completely randomized design each with four replications. Data were recorded for 15 days on parameter like germination percentage, time to start germination, time to 50% germination, mean germination time and germination index. Mean germination time and germination index were significant in both salinity and drought stress, except time to start germination and time to 50% germination which were non significant. Increasing field capacity from 0 to 100% increase emergence percentage, time to start emergence, time to 50% emergence, mean emergence time and emergence index. Maximum germination was occurred at neutral pH 7. Emergence decreased with increase in sowing depth with maximum seed grown (72.50%) at soil surface 0 cm and minimum (35.00%) at 6cm.