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Cirujeda, AAuthor

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August 4, 2024
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Hybrid Gold

A new experimental device for germinating seeds under controlled soil water potentials, a step beyond PEG

Publicated to:Plant And Soil. 504 (1-2): 561-574 - 2024-04-19 504(1-2), DOI: 10.1007/s11104-024-06642-6

Authors: Moret-Fernandez, D; Tormo, J; Lopez, M V; Cirujeda, A; Bochet, E

Affiliations

Consejo Super Invest Cient EEAD CSIC, Estn Expt Aula, POB 13034, Zaragoza 50080, Spain - Author
Ctr Invest & Tecnol Agroalimentaria Aragon, Dept Sistemas Agr Forestales & Medio Ambiente, Ave Montanana 930, Zaragoza 50059, Spain - Author
Ctr Invest Desertificac CIDE CSIC UV GV, Valencia 46113, Spain - Author
Univ Zaragoza, Escuela Politecn Super, Dept Ciencias Agr & Medio Nat, Inst Invest Ciencias Ambientales IUCA, Ctra Cuarte S-N, Huesca 22071, Spain - Author
Univ Zaragoza, Inst Agroalimentario Aragon IA2, CITA, Zaragoza 50013, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Background and aims Germination as a function of soil water potential (h) is modelled using polyethylene glycol (PEG). But, PEG would not consider soil properties. Our objective is to show the limitations of PEG to model germination in real soils. Using a new device, the tension germinator (TG), we show the interaction between soil type, h and seed characteristics on seed germination. Methods TG (A Mariotte reservoir that supplies water at constant h to a porous substrate on which seeds are deposited). Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.) seeds were placed on TG with loam (TG-loam) and sand (TG-sand), and h of 0, -0.002, -0.006 MPa. Then, the imbibition curves were monitored. PEG experiments (0 to -2.5 MPa) were performed to estimate the critical h, h(PEG), or h from which the imbibition curve decreases compared with that at 0 MPa. PEG curves for 0 > h > -0.01 MPa were compared with TG. Results PEG and TG curves were not different at 0 MPa. hPEG for barley and vetch was within [0, -0.01] MPa. While no differences were observed between PEG at [0, -0.01] MPa and TG-loam curves, TG-sand curves at -0.002 and -0.006 MPa were different to those of PEG. Conversely to PEG at -0.01 MPa, no imbibition was observed in TG-sand (-0.006 MPa). A negligible influence of h in TG-loam was observed. Conclusions PEG is not adequate to describe seed germination in soil. But the TG allows monitoring seed germination in real soils and controlled h.

Keywords

Conductividad hidráulicaFielGerminabilidad de las semillasHydraulic conductivityModelPotencial hídrico del sueloRetención de agua por el sueloSeed germinationSeed water contentSimulationWater potentiaWater potentialWater retention curve

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Plant And Soil due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position 15/129, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Agronomy.

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-09-15:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 5.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 5 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 1.5.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 2 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/10532/6969