The effect of growth stimulants on the seed vigour, germination and biometric indices of carrot plants

Abstract

The obtaining high carrot yields while maintaining its quality, safety and minimal costs for production
process requires the use of the new generation growth stimulants for pre-sowing seed treatment. The study
aim is to examine the effect of the growth stimulants various origins on the seed vigour and germination of
table carrots of the Autumn Queen cultivar and changes in the plant's biometric indicators. The experimental
study was carried out in laboratory conditions using four growth stimulants of different origin: Humisol-prima
NPK, 1r Seed Treatment, Vimpel 2, Emistym S. The selected carrot seeds were soaked in 100 pieces in
solutions of the presented stimulants and in water (control). The seed vigour was determined on day 4, and
the germination was determined on day 8. After 14 days of the experiment, the biometric measurement of the
carrot plant's morphological organs were conducted. It was established the carrot seeds treatment with the
solutions of the stimulating preparations leads to an increase in the seed vigour compared to the control
(water): 1r Seed Treatment – by 34.0 %, Humisol-prima NPK – by 28.4%, Vympel 2 – by 21.5 %, Emistim C –
by 13.3 %. An increase in the carrot seeds germination soaked in the stimulants solutions was also observed,
relative to the control: 1r Seed Treatment – by 20.0 %, Humisol-prima NPK – by 17.3 %, Vympel 2 – by
15.4 %, Emistim C – by 7.4 %. The highest effect on the carrot plant biometric parameters was obtained under
the seed treatment with solutions of 1r Seed Treatment (root length increased by 30.5 %, shoot height by
18.5 %) and Humisol-prima NPK (by 26.1 % and 11.5 %, respectively). Vimpel 2 and Emistym C had a weak
effect on the root length and height of seedlings. As a result of Vimpel 2 treatment the root length increased
by 19.3 % and height of shoots by 5.6 %, and Emistym C treated lead to the increase of these values by 16.4 %
and 7.0 %, respectively. The best results were obtained by all indicators using solutions of 1r Seed Treatment
and Humisol-prima NPK in pre-sowing treatment of carrot seeds.