How to germinate Crotalaria pallida

Crotalaria pallida is a legume from tropical Africa and Asia that exhibits physical seed dormancy due to an impermeable seed coat. Germination is quick after proper treatment and initial growth is slow, but the plant establishes well once developed. This nitrogen-fixing species is widely cultivated as a green manure crop and ground cover in tropical regions.

Before sowing

Scarification

agua_quente Soak in hot tap water and let stand in water for 24 hours. Repeat process on seeds that did not imbibe. Hot water treatment improves germination rate significantly.

Soak

12 h Pre-soaking seed for 12 hours in warm water can help reduce germination time. Most seeds will swell when soaked.

Hot water scarification is the recommended pre-treatment. Seeds have a hard, impermeable seed coat causing physical dormancy.

Sowing

Substrate

Well-drained seed sowing mix, sandy loam to clay loam soils

Depth

2cm_mais

Temperature

25°C

Moisture

media

Container

Seed trays or individual pots for nursery propagation

What to expect

Step 1

Pre-treat the seed

Step 2

Sow at 2cm_mais · 25°C

Day 6–25

Seedlings emerge (~70%)

Tips

Use fresh seeds when possible as they have higher germination rates than stored seed. Soak seeds in hot (not boiling) tap water for 24 hours; if seeds fail to swell, repeat the process or gently scarify with sandpaper. Sow immediately after seeds swell. Plant at 15cm or greater height. Water moderately and maintain humidity. Seedlings may be transplanted to individual pots once large enough to handle. This plant tolerates poor soils and harsh sites.

Sources: Sheffields Seeds, WIKTROP, PlantNet PROSEA, Tropical Ferns Database, CSIRO Australia, SoCfindo Conservation

Fresh seeds to sow

Crotalaria pallida

Before sowing

Sowing

What to expect

Tips

You might also like