How to interpret your seed test results - a step-by-step guide

Seed tests are a great way for producers to find out what they are dealing with when it comes to seed quality and health. Whether you are a seed grower or saving your own seed, testing seed after harvest and again in the spring can provide seed management insights. A fall seed quality test provides an indication of the grain’s potential as seed. Spring testing gives insight into changes that may have occurred during winter storage. Together, they provide the foundation for appropriate seed use to maximize potential.

Generally, seed tests provide results on:

• Germination
• Vigour
• Thousand kernel weight
• Mechanical damage
• Disease diagnostic profile
• How are they tested? How to use them to make on-farm decisions?

Germination test
How does it work?

A germination test looks at what percentage of seeds in a seed lot are capable of germinating. It is conducted under optimal conditions, including optimal temperature, consistent moisture and good aeration. It represents the highest level of seed germination growers can expect in the field.

How to use it?

The resulting germination rate is used to calculate a seeding rate based on the desired plant stand or desired number of seeds per unit area. Refer to the Alberta Grains Seeding Rate Calculator for more details. Germination results and the observation of abnormal seedling growth can indicate the presence of mechanical damage, which can predispose the seed to soil-borne pathogens such as Pythium spp.