Abstract
Different amounts of potassium fertilizers were given to plots and leguminous plants such Cassia mimosoides L. var. Nomame MAKINO, Microlespedeza striata MAKINO and Astragalus sinicus L. were grown on the plots. Seeds harvested were stored in decicators in which relative humidity was controlled to 78.2 per cent with 6.9N sulfuric acid and then swelling velocity of the seeds was surveyed under water. Seeds, seed coats and cotyledons were analyzed for potash, soda, lime and magnesia. The results obtained were summerized as follows: 1) The swelling velocity of seeds increased obviously with the increase of the amounts of potassium fertilizers applied. 2) The potassium contents of seeds increased obviously with the increase of the amounts of potassium fertilizers, too. 3) The increase of potassium contents was more obvious in seed coats than in cotyledons. 4) From these results it is concluded that the increase of the swelling velocity of seeds with the increase of potassium application is caused by the increase of potassium contents of seed coats.
