Effect of Anaerobic Conditions on Imbibed Lettuce Seeds

Abstract

IN investigations into the influence of soil conditions on the establishment of vegetable crops from seed, experiments on the effect of the atmosphere on seed germination have shown that seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., var. Cobham Green) are capable of germinating, though not of growing rapidly, when exposed to an atmosphere of 80 per cent nitrogen, 5 per cent oxygen and 15 per cent carbon dioxide. Published evidence^1,2 suggests that concentrations of carbon dioxide in the surface layers of cultivated soils are rarely, if ever, higher than 4 per cent, and it might be assumed that any effect of soil anaerobiosis on crop plants is due to lack of oxygen rather than excess of carbon dioxide. However, Hack² has pointed out that the smaller the sample of soil air taken, generally the higher is its carbon dioxide content.