The yield and physiological quality of oat seeds subjected to cover with zinc - doi: 10.4025/actasciagron.v35i3.16359

Micronutrients, such as zinc, are important for the metabolic activities that can benefit germination and seed vigor because many soils are deficient in this micronutrient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of coating oat seeds with zinc on the physiological quality and yield of the seeds produced. The experimental design was completely randomized, with a 2 x 5 factorial arrangement of the following, with four replications per treatment: factor A - product 1, 780 g L-1 zinc, and product 2, 17 and 600 g L-1 nitrogen and zinc, respectively; and factor B - 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mL of each product kg-1 seed. The results were subjected to an analysis of variance and a means comparison test (p ≤ 0.5 using Tukey’s test). The experimental plots consisted of vases of 30 L situated in the greenhouse of the Plant Science Department, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. After harvesting, the yield and physiological quality of the seeds was evaluated based on germination, accelerated aging, cold and field emergence tests. At all of the studied doses, both of the zinc products used to coat the seeds resulted in an increase in the yield and seed germination. The dose of 3 mL of product per kg seed generated the best results.