Seed Improvement and Propagation Station's new onion seedling technology can increase germination rate to over 80%

In recent years, extreme weather has brought frequent heavy rainfall, posing severe challenges to onion seedling operations. The Seed Improvement and Propagation Station of the Ministry of Agriculture has developed a new technology proven to increase the germination rate to over 80%. The Ministry of Agriculture issued a press release today stating that since 2024, the Station has been promoting the research and development of the "onion plug seedling adaptation technology." This integrates three core technologies: onion seed pelleting, facility plug seedling management, and gel solidification, combined with mechanical sowing and transplanting, to gradually establish a seedling production model that is both disaster-resilient and labor-saving. The Station noted that extreme weather has intensified recently. Traditional open-field seedling methods are vulnerable to heavy rain, often resulting in soil waterlogging, collapsed ridges, root rot, and uneven emergence, keeping the germination rate at only 60% to 70%. The Station introduced this new successfully developed technology, combining it with facility cultivation to effectively improve water control and drainage, thereby reducing the impact of heavy rain. The new method first uses seed pelleting to improve the precision of sowing tiny, irregularly shaped onion seeds. Second, it utilizes facility plug tray management to nurture uniform and robust seedlings. Finally, a gel solidification treatment stabilizes the root system before transplanting, improving the smoothness of mechanical planting and reducing labor requirements. Results show the germination rate rises to over 80%, significantly improving overall survival. The Station's trials in onion-producing areas indicate that this technology not only mitigates heavy rain impacts but also leverages mechanization to save labor and time costs, enhancing overall operational efficiency.