Effect of pH on Germination of Four Common Grass Species of Ujjain (India)

Abstract

The effect of acids and bases on the seed germination of four important grasses were evaluated at Ujjain (India). The species were Iseilema anthephoroides, Sehima nervosum, Apluda mutica and Dactyoctenium aegyptium. The seeds were treated in petri dishes by pH solutions ranging from 2.0 to 11.0 and percent of germination was recorded. No germination was observed at pH 2.0 in any species. In contrast to that of the Apluda, germination of Iseilema and Sehima was better in acidic medium. Dactyloctenium had high germination at all pH levels. The graph between pH and percent germination reveals a curvilinear relationship. Second degree quadratic equation Y=a+bX+cX^2 was fitted for each species to get the best estimate of the percent of germination for any particular pH value. Statistical analysis shows significant differences among the different pH levels and among species.