Abstract
In the present paper, the seed germination and the seedling growth under various environmental conditions were investigated to get the fundamental data on the cultivation and the utilization of Japanese barnyard millet as soiling crop. 1) The optimum temperature for the seed germination of Japanese barnyard millet was 35℃, the maximum temperature was between 40℃ and 45℃, and the minimum temperature was below 10℃. As the seeds can germinate after 4 days of seeding at 15℃, it is possible to seed safely when the average daily temperature reached to 15℃. 2) As mesocotyl showed a remarkable elongation, 70 per cent of seedlings emerged under deep sowing of 10cm and 30 per cent under 15cm. Therefore, under dry soil surface, the high percentage of seedling emergence may be expected by deep sowing such as 5〜6cm than shallow sowing such as 1〜2cm. 3) No emergence of seedling was found in dry soil of pF 4.2 (about 15% moisture ratio), but the emergence of seedling was found in the soil of pF 4.1 (about 16% moisture ratio). In the soil which pF ranged 3.4 to 3.8 (about 22〜30% moisture ratio), the percentage of seedling emergence was not decreased, although some delay of seedling emergence was observed. 4) The percentage of seed germination in the deep water such as 10〜15cm was not reduced at all, but the seedling growth was inhibited. This inhibition of seedling growth in the water was removed by adding hydrogen peroxide (100ppm). 5) In over-moist soil such as 5cm ground water level, the seed germination was about 90 per cent and the stand establishment was nearly 100 per cent. The plant height and dry matter weight on 30 days after seeding were the highest in the soil of 15cm ground water level.
