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The Effect of Ammonium Phosphate and Other Chemicals on the Germination of Cotton and Wheat Seeds¹

ABSTRACT

Field and greenhouse studies with cotton and wheat showed that fertilizers containing ammonium phosphates were especially detrimental to germination and could result in very poor stands. In order to study the cause of this harmful effect, seeds were soaked in salt solutions (including ammonium phosphates) and acids for various time intervals. The seed surfaces were then washed free of the solutions and allowed to germinate. The (NH₄)₂ HPO₄ solutions reduced germination more than any other salt solution including NH₄H₂PO₄. In studies with cotton seed, a solution of (NH₄)₂SO₄ adjusted with NH₄OH to pH 8.2 did not reduce germination as much as did (NH₄)₂ HPO₄. Germination was lowered more by H₂SO₄ than by H₃PO₄ at the same pH. Soaking the seed in salt solutions such as CaSO₄ before soaking in (NH₄)₂HPO₄ did not improve germination. When the seeds were soaked in MgSO₄ or MgCl₂ after being soaked in (NH₄)₂HPO₄, there was an improvement in germination as compared with (NH₄)₂HPO₄ alone. Soaking in MgSO₄ and MgCl₂ did not increase the germination of seed that had been soaked in H₃PO₄. It appears that the detrimental effect of ammonium phosphate is not due to the ammonium or phosphate ion per se.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy and Soils, Agr. Exp. Sta., Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., in cooperation with the Div. of Agr. Relations, TVA. Presented before Div. IV, Soil Sci. Soc. Am., August 21, 1962, at Ithaca, N. Y.

² Professors.

Received for publication July 15, 1963. Accepted for publication September 19, 1963.