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The use of osmotic treatment or osmoconditioning (OC) to improve the performance of soybeans (Glycine (L.) Merrill cv. ‘Traverse’) was explored. The aim of this investigation was to examine in detail the optimum conditions needed for OC of soybean seeds for germination and soil emergence at suboptimal temperatures. Such a study is necessary if soybeans are to be planted early in the season when the soil is moist and cold. Osmotic treatment consisted of treating seeds with various concentrations of polyethylene glycol‐6000 (PEG) solutions at 15 C. Following osmotic treatment, seeds were germinated either on filter paper soaked with water or in a soil medium. The treatment improved the performance of soybean seeds as shown by axvancement in the time of germination and an increase in the rate of germination and emergence at suboptimal temperatures (8 or 15 C). The optimum time period of 06 at 15 C was in the range of 4 to 8 days, and the most favorable range of PEG concentration for OC was 25 to 30 g/100 ml of water (−8.6 to −11.9 bars). Following OC, drying the seeds to the original air dry weight did not remove the germination advantage gained by OC. Although 0.20/, thiram added to PEG solution improved the appearance of the seedling, it did not affect OC. These studies suggest that it might be possible to plant osmoconditioned seeds in moist, cold soil to extend the planting Season and/or to improve the uniformity of seedling stand.

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