Effect of Ammonium Nitrate on the Germination of Lettuce Seeds in Light and Dark

Ammonium nitrate proved to be a potent germination stimulator inducing 46 and 48 per cent germination of lettuce seeds in dark at its optimal concentration of 500 mg/1. This was about 4 times higher than their respective controls after 96 hr. Seeds exposed to light produced 86.66 and 88 per cent germination at the same concentration of ammonium nitrate. Light and ammonium nitrate probably acted synergistically to induce maximum germination.