How to deal with the seeds of licorice

In the process of planting licorice, because of the hard seed coat cutin of licorice seeds, it is difficult for seeds to absorb water, and it is difficult to emerge without treatment, which becomes a difficult problem for planting licorice in large areas. At present, sulfuric acid seed dressing method, temperature re-soaking method and seed coat crushing method have been used to treat licorice seeds with good results.

1, sulfuric acid treatment method: the pure seeds per kilogram with 80% sulfuric acid 20~30 ml stir evenly, after 4~7 hours of treatment, rinse with clean water, but the treated seeds must be dried and reused. The treatment time of seeds was related to temperature and acid dosage. The treatment time was shorter when temperature was high and longer when temperature was low.

2. Temperature-increasing re-immersion method: soaking the seeds in warm water at 60 DEG C for 6 - 8 hours, wherein most seeds are fully absorbed by water and separated into layers from seeds which are not absorbed by water, the seeds which are not soaked are arranged below, the soaked seeds are arranged above but do not float on the surface, the soaked seeds can be floated out along with pouring water, and the steps are repeated several times until all the soaked seeds are floated out for use; Then put the unsoaked seeds into 100℃ water for 2 minutes, take them out, immediately put them into cold water for a shock, and then put them into 60℃ water for 2~4 hours. At this time, the seeds have been treated well, and the floating seeds are together. Wash the mucus with clean water, and then make seeds for sowing.

3. Crushing seed coat method: Put licorice seeds on a grinding plate, 3 cm thick, and roll them with turning seeds. When grinding, pay attention to the change of seed coat of licorice seed. When the seed coat is yellow and white, put the ground seed into warm water at 40℃ for 2~4 hours, take it out and wash off the mucus with clean water.

The method of grinding licorice seeds with rice mill is simple and easy, low cost and no harm, but attention should be paid to grasping the appropriate grinding, the purpose of grinding the seed coat is not achieved, the germination rate is low, the grinding is heavy, the seed breakage rate is increased, and the seed waste is serious. The results showed that it was better to grind 3~4 times quickly, and it was better when the seed surface had obvious defect or the seed coat rupture reached more than 90%. Because of the horny seed coat, it is difficult to absorb water, which affects the germination and emergence of seeds.