Seed quality and the use of organic seed treatments to improve crop performance

Low crop establishment on organic farms can lead to increased weed populations and reduced yields. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate seed quality on organic small-grain farms, and (2) to evaluate seven organic-suited commercial seed treatments for their effects on barley performance in laboratory and field-plot trials. Preliminary results from 19 samples indicate that seed quality may be an issue on organic small-grain farms, based primarily on seed purity and germination rate. In laboratory tests, seed treatments were evaluated on paired barley samples of differing quality (farm-saved and certified, aged and unaged) according to germination and vigour results. No seed treatment improved germination or vigour relative to the untreated control. Higher-quality seed had consistently better germination and vigour results than lower-quality seed. Among three field sites sown in 2007, no seed treatment increased barley crop establishment, vigour, yield, 1000-kernel or test weights relative to the untreated control.