Agronomy — Open Access Journal

Shelf life of horticultural commodities is dependent on postharvest handling but also on a wide range of pre-harvest factors, which include genetic and environmental parameters. This study was conducted to explore the influence of cultivar, leaf position, and piece position on the leaf on visual quality of fresh-cut butterhead lettuce as well as the effect of a wide range of cultivation seasons on the postharvest quality and shelf life of baby leaves (spinach and ‘wild’ rocket). Six butterhead lettuce cultivars were used (cultivated soilless in an unheated plastic greenhouse) while the effect of leaf position on the plant (outer and inner leaves) and the piece position on the leaf (piece one close to the leaf base and piece four close to the top) were also evaluated. Baby leaves were cultivated under an unheated plastic greenhouse for winter production and under a nethouse for the rest of the growing season, with a total of five and seven sampling dates for spinach and ‘wild’ rocket respectively. The cultivar of butterhead lettuce had a significant effect on postharvest quality of fresh-cut product but more important was the piece position on the leaf. When this was closer to the base of the leaf, there was more browning on cut edges and limited shelf life for the fresh-cut lettuce. The result was associated in one tested cultivar with PAL activity, which was higher by 106% for piece one compared to piece four as an average for the whole storage period. The growing season of baby leaves had a great impact on their shelf life, with the season of mild environmental conditions achieving the highest marketability. Full article

Previous studies have revealed that the japonica/indica hybrid rice has a higher yield potential, biomass production, and nitrogen (N) accumulation than japonica rice in China, however, at a single N application rate. It remains unclear whether it also occurs at a higher or lower N application rate under the same field condition. To investigate the effects of nitrogen application rates on grain yield, N uptake, dry matter accumulation, and agronomic N use efficiency, field experiments were conducted in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province during three consecutive growth seasons in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Two japonica/indica hybrid varieties (Yongyou 12 and Yongyou 538) and two japonica varieties (Xiushui 134 and Jia 58) were exposed to five N application rates (0, 150, 225, 300, and 375 kg ha⁻¹). The results showed that grain yields of all the varieties increased with increasing nitrogen application rates, except for Jia 58 whose optimum nitrogen level was 225 kg ha⁻¹, because no significant difference was observed between N225 and N300. Across the four rice varieties, N uptake increased significantly with increased N-fertilizer rates at all the growth stages (p < 0.05). Across the three planting years, the average grain yield of japonica/indica hybrid rice was higher than that of japonica rice by 75.6% at N0, 57.2% at N150, 41.1% at N225, 38.3% at N300, and 45.8% at N375. We also found that as compared with japonica rice, the japonica/indica hybrid rice had more grain yield, higher dry matter, and higher N uptake at all growth stages, regardless of the N application rate. Full article

Several recent reports have highlighted some of the mechanisms involved in the enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses induced by root-associated microorganisms, although additional efforts are still required to exploit and optimize these strategies. Particularly, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role as “bio-fertilizing microorganisms”, establishing mutualistic symbioses with the roots of most crops. In this work, different microbial inocula (a single AMF species, a combination of three different AMF species, a combination of two plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) strains and a more complex commercial inoculum) have been used to inoculate tomato plants (cv San Marzano nano), in order to verify their effects on the tolerance to a water deficit condition in pots, through the evaluation of biochemical stress markers and hormonal profiles (ABA and IAA). Results showed differences among tomato responses to water limitation depending on microbial inocula, confirming the importance to characterize the optimal plant/microorganism genotype combination(s) to maximize plant performance and tolerance. These findings open new perspectives for a better exploitation of these microorganisms. Full article

New solutions allowing for the shortening of the growing cycle and improvements in plant quality are constantly sought in order to improve the efficiency of bedding plant production under covers. Biodegradable polysaccharides and their derivatives have become increasingly popular in horticulture as plant growth promoters. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of depolymerized gellan of different molecular weights (M_W 56 kDa and 77 kDa) on the growth and physiological parameters of ornamental bedding plants Rudbeckia hirta L., Salvia splendens Sellow ex J.A. Schultes, Scabiosa atropurpurea L., and Tithonia rotundifolia (Mill.) S.F. Blake. The results showed that the application of depolymerized gellan accelerated flowering and stimulated the growth of all assessed species, regardless of M_W. The plants treated with depolymerized gellan grew higher and had greater fresh weight of their above-ground parts, higher leaf relative chlorophyll content (SPAD; soil and plant analysis development), and higher stomatal conductance (g_s). The use of 56 kDa gellan fraction resulted in the formation of inflorescences with the greatest fresh weight in S. atropurpurea. Leaves of R. hirta treated with this fraction showed the highest values of SPAD and g_s. This study demonstrated that gellan derivatives of low M_W may be used for the production of innovative plant biostimulants. Full article

Iron-biofortification is a sustainable food-based approach to combat iron deficiency by increasing iron content and bioavailability in agronomic crops. Siderophore producing microbes offer a sustainable and low-cost way to increase iron supply in crops. Also, certain substances released from organic amendments act as iron-chelators which increase the solubility as well as the availability of iron to plants. Present study investigated the role of siderophore-producing endophytic bacteria and biochar on iron-fortification of a novel crop quinoa in iron-limited saline conditions. The surface-disinfected seeds of quinoa were inoculated with Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN (CFU = 10⁹) and sown in saline soil (EC 20 dS m⁻¹) amended with biochar (1% w/w). Results revealed that biochar and PsJN particularly when applied together significantly enhanced plant growth, grain yield, and grain nutrient contents of quinoa. Strikingly, iron concentration in quinoa grains was increased up to 71% by the combined application of biochar and PsJN. Moreover, plant physiological parameters were also improved significantly by the integrated application. However, enzymatic/non-enzymatic antioxidants activities were decreased by integrated treatment thus ameliorated salinity stress. Our study suggests that integrated application of siderophore-producing bacteria and biochar could be a promising, sustainable and cost-effective strategy which is easily integratable into the existing farming practices to achieve food fortification with micronutrients in developing countries. Full article

Cucumber is a major vegetable crop grown in facilities, and its seedlings are sensitive to salinity. Thus, it is important for cucumber cultivation to research the effects of Ca(NO₃)₂. In this study, we investigated salt-sensitive Chunqiu (CQ) and salt-tolerant BoMei 49 (BM) seedlings, the changes to the enzymes involved in the mitochondria antioxidant system in the seedlings, and the changes in the MPTP (Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore) opening, mitochondrial membrane fluidity, mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization, mitochondrial electron transfer chain, and NO metabolism in response to Ca(NO₃)₂. Ca(NO₃)₂ stresses inhibited the growth of the cucumber seedlings, which showed a reduced root length, a decreased surface area and a decreased number of root tips, but a significantly increased root diameter. The mitochondrial malondialdehyde (MDA) content, H₂O₂ content, and O₂⁻ producing rate of the two cucumber roots were gradually increased in the Ca(NO₃)₂ treatment. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidation enzyme (POD) gradually increased, and catalase (CAT) activity gradually decreased. The electron transport chain activity of “BM” was higher than “CQ” under Ca(NO₃)₂ stress. Ca(NO₃)₂ stress destroyed the membrane structure of the mitochondria, so that the mitochondrial body tended to bend, causing double-membrane digestion and a hollow interior. Under the stress of Ca(NO₃)₂, the NO₃^- content of the seedlings increased significantly. The contents of NH₄⁺ and NO, as well as the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NIR), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) decreased significantly. These findings provide physiological insights into root damage in response to salt stress for salt tolerance in cucumber. Full article

In Poland, under conditions of the moderate climate and transition between maritime and continental climates, the average rainfall totals of the growing season are in the range of 350–400 mm; however, they are distinguished by great temporal and spatial variability. Climatological studies demonstrate that the drought frequency is approximately 30%. Therefore, under such conditions, irrigation has a supplementary and intervention nature and is applied only when dry periods occur. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of sprinkler irrigation and increased nitrogen fertilization on the yield and quality of sugar beet roots and yield of sugar. The average increase of the yield under irrigation was 18.1 t·ha⁻¹ which constituted a 22.8% increase in the yield. Furthermore, there was a marked tendency of a higher sugar content in the roots of irrigated plants. The absolute, relative, and unit average sugar beet root yield increases obtained under the influence of sprinkler irrigation and the lack of a significant diversity in the sugar content in roots confirm that irrigation contributed to an appropriate pace of plant growth and development. The increased rate of nitrogen fertilization (N2) of 160 kg N·ha⁻¹ plus an additional 40 kg N·ha⁻¹ resulted in the significantly greater root yields compared to the control (N1) (160 kg N·ha⁻¹), i.e., an average of 7.6 t·ha⁻¹ (9%). Based on the crop-water production function, the maximum root yields were obtained for the N1 rate at a total precipitation and irrigation amount of 382 mm, compared with 367 mm for the N2 rate. Full article

In the current context of climate change, there is growing interest in the optimization of water management in irrigated areas, in semi-arid environments. The design of adequate adaptation and mitigation measures requires specific data at different scales of the water management hierarchy, up to basin level. In this work, the irrigation and drainage system of San Pedro de Castelflorite Irrigation Community (Huesca province, NE Spain), first set up as a flood irrigation system around 1970 and then modernized to sprinkler irrigation around 2008, was studied over two irrigation seasons. The land in this basin, with a surface of 11,450 ha, is affected by severe sodicity problems, which impedes cultivation in large areas. Most of the drainage water discharges into Clamor Vieja ravine, in which the quantity and quality of drainage, using water, salt, and nitrogen balances, were monitored. The water regime was found to be essentially regulated by irrigation. From the water balance, the consumed and the recoverable fractions were estimated at 76% and 23%, respectively, and the depleted beneficial fraction for the irrigated area at 73%. A predominance of salt dissolution processes over precipitation processes was found, with salt exports of approximately 2000 kg·ha⁻¹·year⁻¹. The nitrogen exported by the drainage water was 7 kg N·ha⁻¹·year⁻¹. This value, remarkably lower than those reported for nearby basins in the central Ebro valley, can be attributed to the flooding of rice fields and to the low permeability of the soils present in this basin, which would hamper nitrate washing through the soil profile. Full article

Climate, soil and tree water status, fruit yields and quality of ‘Valencia’ orange trees were monitored over five consecutive seasons (2007–2012) to study the effects of irrigation placement or volume. Three irrigation treatments were imposed: conventional irrigation (CI, 100% of crop evapotranspiration on both sides of the rootzone), partial rootzone drying (PRD, 50% of CI water only on one alternated side of the rootzone) and continuous deficit irrigation (DI, 50% of CI water on both sides of the rootzone). Yield parameters were generally not affected by PRD, and only yield per tree was lower in DI than CI trees. Fruit size and juice content were also reduced by DI, and not by PRD. Both PRD and DI increased juice soluble solids and acidity, vitamin C and carotenoid concentrations, as well as fruit, juice and sugar productivity per unit of irrigation water. Overall, the straight reduction of irrigation volumes by ~55% (DI) induced an average of 4.4% leaf dehydration, which caused significant fruit size reductions and a 3.4% reduction in juice yield, corresponding to a loss of about 2.6 tons of juice and 261 kg of sugars per hectare and year. On the other hand, water savings of about 2 mega liters per hectare and year with PRD caused a mild 2.3% leaf dehydration and mainly fruit quality improvements, indicating that PRD is a sustainable irrigation strategy for ‘Valencia’ orange. Full article

Medicinal and aromatic plants have the ability to transmit volatile allelochemicals and affect their surrounding organisms. In this regard, their interaction should also be considered. The inhibitory effects of 112 essential oils on lettuce seed and seedling were investigated by cotton swab method. Germination (G%), Mean germination time (MGT), Lethal of embryo (L%), dormancy (D%), radicle growth (R%), and hypocotyl growth (H%) were measured. Two methods were used for evaluating allelopathic interaction effects: the simplified modified dilution check-board technique (SMCT) and the isobologram. Thymus daenensis had the highest inhibitory effect on G% (IC₅₀ = 2.9 ppm) and the most lethal effect on the embryo (LC₅0 = 7.2 ppm). Thymus transcaspicus, Dracocephalum moldavica, Artemisia sieberi and Amomum subulatum had the greatest effect on MGT. Ziziphora tenuior, Trachyspermum ammi and Pelargonium graveolens had the highest effect on D%. Origanum vulgare was the strongest growth inhibitor. The highest synergistic effect on G% was in A. subulatum + Mentha suaveolens, on H% was related to Perovskia abrotanoides + T. daenensis, and on R% was observed in Artemisia vulgaris + M. suaveolens. The results of this study can lead to identification of new phytotoxic compounds in EOs and control weeds more effectively. Full article

Italian ryegrass is a major weed problem in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production worldwide. Two separate studies were conducted in Stoneville, Mississippi to evaluate: (1) the efficacy of herbicides available to Mississippi producers for controlling glyphosate-resistant (GR) Italian ryegrass (control study), and (2) fall burndown herbicide seed suppression study. Results of the control study showed that flufenacet/metribuzin EPOST followed by (fb) pinoxaden LPOST (standard treatment) provided 93% control of GR Italian ryegrass. Some other treatments provided comparable Italian ryegrass control (92% to 97%) as the standard treatment in 2017. Italian ryegrass control in the seed suppression study was 100%, 100%, 67.5%, 97%, and 99.5% from the application of the following treatments: (1) S-metolachlor + flumioxazin + paraquat in October–November fb glyphosate + clethodim in January–February fb gramoxone as needed (weed-free check); (2) S-metolachlor + flumioxazin + paraquat in October–November; (3) field cultivator (disk) in October–November; (4) glyphosate + clethodim in January–February; and (5) field cultivator in October–November fb glyphosate + clethodim in January–February, respectively. The remaining Italian ryegrass from the application of treatments 3, 4, and 5 produced 65,700; 1008; and 9 seeds m⁻², respectively. Seed suppression study highlights the importance of 100% control that is required to manage GR Italian grass. Full article

Urea is the most used fertilizer nitrogen (N), and is often applied as urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), which may be an ammonia (NH₃) emission source after application. This study examined whether the addition of urease inhibitors reduced NH₃ emission, and, in combination with nitrification inhibitors, enhanced fertilizer N crop uptake. In three experiments, NH₃ emission was measured from plots (100 m²) to which UAN was added with and without inhibitors. In March and May, the plots were covered with Triticum aestivum L., Sheriff (var), and in July, the soil was bare. The inhibitor mixed with urea was N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and a mixture of NBPT and the new nitrification inhibitor DMPSA (3,4-Dimethylpyrazole succinic acid). Ammonia emissions were negligible from all plots after the first application of UAN due to the wet and cold weather while an average of 7% of applied UAN was emitted after application of UAN in April, where no significant effect of additives was observed. The harvest yield was low due to drought from May till August. Yield was highest when UAN was mixed with NBPT and lowest for untreated UAN. The highest emission from the bare plots was obtained from untreated UAN (17% of N), in contrast to 11% of N from the plots with added UAN + NBPT (not significant) and 7% from the plots with added UAN + NBPT + DMPSA (significantly different). Under the conditions of the current study, urease inhibitors reduce NH₃ emissions in periods where the risk of emission is high, and the combination of urease and nitrification inhibitors increased yields. Full article

The practice of crop rotation can significantly impact carbon sequestration potential. In exploring whether crop rotation has the potential to improve soil carbon sequestration in China’s Loess Plateau, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil water content (SWC), soil bulk density (SBD), and soil pH were compared across the 0–1.0 m soil profile, under four crop rotation patterns: lentil–wheat–maize, wheat–potato–lentil, wheat–maize–potato, and wheat–flax–pea. The lentil–wheat–maize and wheat–maize–potato rotations have been practiced over the past 20 years, while the wheat–potato–lentil and wheat–flax–pea rotations were established in 1978 (~40 year rotations). The results showed that under the 20-year lentil–wheat–maize rotation, SOC was not significantly different to that of the wheat–maize–potato rotation, at 6.81 g kg⁻¹ and 6.91 g kg⁻¹, respectively. However, under the lentil–wheat–maize rotation, SWC (9.81%) and SBD (1.19 Mg m⁻³) were significantly higher, but soil pH (8.42) was significantly lower than the same metrics under wheat–maize–potato rotation (8.43% and 1.16 Mg m⁻³, and 8.50, respectively). For the 40-year rotations, SWC (9.19%) and soil pH (8.41) under the wheat–potato–lentil were not significantly different to that of the wheat–flax–pea (8.87%, and 8.40, respectively). SOC (6.06 g kg⁻¹) was significantly lower, but SBD (1.18 Mg m⁻³) was significantly higher under the wheat–potato–lentil than the wheat–flax–pea (7.29 g kg⁻¹, and 1.15 Mg m⁻³, respectively) rotations. Soil carbon sequestration for the lentil–wheat–maize and wheat–potato–lentil rotations was co-influenced by SWC, SBD, and soil pH, while for wheat–maize–potato and wheat–flax–pea rotations, it was co-influenced by SWC and soil pH. The economic value of the four studied crops is, in order: potato > maize > wheat > flax. The results of the present study suggest that the lentil–wheat–maize and maize–flax–pea rotations are the most suitable patterns to optimize simultaneous economic and ecological development of the study area. Full article

The soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) and the nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Mi) are destructive pathogens that cause substantial yield losses to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crops worldwide. The present study sought to elucidate the physiological, biochemical, and cytological responses of tomato cultivars (Gailing maofen 802 and Zhongza 09) by root invasion of Fo (1 × 10⁵ CFUmL⁻¹) and Mi (1500 second-stage juveniles (J2) alone and in combination after 14 days. Results revealed that combined inoculation of Fo and Mi significantly increased disease intensity, electrolyte leakage, and hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents; and decreased photosynthetic capacity and enzyme activity in both cultivars as compared to their solo inoculation. Increasing the disease intensity reduced the maximum morphological traits, such as shoot length, total dry weight, and total chlorophyll contents, in G. maofen 802 (by 32%, 54.2%, and 52.3%, respectively) and Zhongza 09 (by 18%, 32%, and 21%, respectively) as compared to the control. Others factors were also reduced in G. maofen 802 and Zhongza 09, such as photosynthetic capacity (by 70% and 57%, respectively), stomatal conductance (by 86% and 70%, respectively), photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (YII) (by 36.6% and 29%, respectively), and electron transport rate (by 17.7% and 10%, respectively), after combined inoculation of Fo and Mi. Furthermore, the combined infestation of Fo and Mi resulted in reduced activity of plant-defense-related antioxidants in G. maofen 802 compared with their single application or control. However, these antioxidants were highly up-regulated in Zhongza 09 (by 59%–93%), revealing the induction of tolerance against studied pathogens. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results further demonstrated that root cells of Zhongza 09 had unique tetrahedral crystal-like structures in the membrane close to mitochondria under all treatments except control. Therefore, it is concluded that Mi caused severe root damage, suppressed plant growth, depleted antioxidants, and caused high generation of ROS in the presence of Fo as compared to its solo inoculation. Tolerant cultivars adopted different mechanistic strategies at the structural and cellular levels to tolerate the Mi and Fo stresses. Full article

Total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentration in the soil are an indicator of soil degradation. To understand how land-use may impact these concentrations in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF), we analyzed the effect of four land-uses on TOC stocks (STK.TOC) and TN stocks (STK.TN) in a semi-arid region of Brazil. Soil samples were collected in 12 trenches (three sites × four land-uses—dense caatinga (DC), open caatinga (OC), pasture (PA) and agriculture (AG)), in the 0–10; 10–20 and 20–30 cm layers or as far as the bedrock. The data were compared by the Kruskal–Wallis test (p ≤ 0.05) and similarity investigated by cluster analysis. STK.TOC and STK.TN the surface layer (0–10 cm) showed no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the DC; OC and PA land-uses. The similarity in STK.TOC and STK.TN values between DC, OC and PA, indicate that it is possible to explore SDTF to produce biomass and protein by adopting open caatinga and pasture land uses on Neosols with very low TOC stocks. The greatest reduction in STK.TOC and STK.TN in the agriculture land-use may lead to soil degradation and contribute to the addition of CO₂ to the atmosphere. Full article

Soils with highly uniform textural, physical, and chemical characteristics still give rise to crop stand variability. Seed quality is one of the factors adding to yield variability and has become a concern for corn growers. Hybrid seed producers claim that their seeds provide a uniformity in crop emergence and productivity, but they do not always provide detailed studies to support this claim. Based on growers’ concerns, we examined fields planted with three different hybrid varieties and found that 25% to 50% of the stand had relatively weak vigor, where seed variety A showed 15% of seedlings with lower vigor, and varieties B and C had 30% of seedlings with low vigor. These apparent differences in plant vigor prompted us to initiate a cursory investigation to identify how seed size influenced seedling vigor and if the seedling’s microbial profile played a role in the early growth stages of three commonly grown corn hybrids in Ontario. Seeds were separated based on size, prior to conducting a growth room study. Different sizes of seeds from the same seed lot showed significant differences in vigor capacity and related biometric components. Significant differences were also found in their nutritional composition and microbial profiles within the different seed sizes and the roots and shoots of seedlings derived from such seeds. The results clearly indicate that seed size greatly impacts the plant growth and its microbiome, resulting in seedlings with different plant vigor, microbiomes, and performance. Full article

Biochar (BC) has the potential to replace bark-based commercial substrates in the production of container plants. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of mixed hardwood biochar (HB) and sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB) to replace the bark-based commercial substrate. A bark-based commercial substrate was incorporated with either HB at 50% (vol.) or SBB at 50% and 70% (vol.), with a bark-based commercial substrate being used as the control. The total porosity (TP) and container capacity (CC) of all SBB-incorporated mixes were slightly higher than the recommended value, while, the others were within the recommended range. Both tomato and basil plants grown in the BC-incorporated mixes had a similar or higher growth index (GI), leaf greenness (indicated by soil-plant analyses development), and yield than the control. The leachate of all mixes had the highest NO₃–N concentration in the first week after transplantation (1 WAT). All BC-incorporated mixes grown with both tomato and basil had similar NO₃–N concentration to the control (except 50% SBB at 1 and 5 WAT, and 50% HB at 5 WAT with tomato plants; 50% SBB at 5 WAT with basil plants). In conclusion, HB could replace bark-based substrates at 50% and SBB at 70% for both tomato and basil plant growth, without negative effects. Full article

In the rice-wheat rotation system, conventional culturing of high yield rice results in poor soil conditions and excessive residues, which negatively affect wheat growth. Tillage and nitrogen (N) use are being sought to address this problem. In order to propose a suitable tillage method and corresponding N management strategy, the influence of three tillage methods (i.e., plow tillage followed by rotary tillage (PR), rotary tillage twice (RR), and no-tillage (NT)) and nine forms of N management strategies (i.e., three total N rates × three N-splitting schemes) were investigated in a field experiment from 2016 to 2017 (2017) and 2017 to 2018 (2018), using grain yield, grain protein content (GPC), N uptake efficiency (NUpE), and net returns as evaluation indexes. Grain yield, GPC, and net returns were lower in 2017 than 2018, likely as a result of weak seedling growth caused by high soil moisture before and after seeding. In 2017, NT achieved higher grain yield, NUpE, and net returns compared to PR or RR, while grain yield and net returns were higher under tillage in 2018, especially PR. Increased total N rates (210–270 kg ha⁻¹) promoted all evaluation indexes, but suitable timing and corresponding rates of N application are dependent on the environment. These results indicate that the combination of NT and applying N at lower rates and only a few times (i.e., 168 and 72 kg ha⁻¹ applied at pre-sowing and when flag leaves are visible) when the soil is not suitable for tillage is the best method for cutting costs and improving benefits. Under suitable conditions for tillage, PR and intensive management strategies (i.e., 135, 27, 54, and 54 kg ha⁻¹ applied at pre-sowing, four-leaf, jointing, and booting, respectively) could be adopted to increase overall yield, quality, and benefits. Full article

Biostimulant seed coating formulations were investigated in laboratory experiments for their potential to increase maximum germination, germination rate, germination uniformity, and seedling growth of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seeds. Red clover and perennial ryegrass seeds were coated with different combinations of soy flour, diatomaceous earth, micronized vermicompost, and concentrated vermicompost extract. Coated and non-coated seeds of red clover and perennial ryegrass were evaluated for germination and growth after 7 and 10 days, respectively. Red clover seed was maintained at a constant 20 °C with a 16/8 h photoperiod, whereas for perennial ryegrass seed, the germinator was maintained at 15/25 °C, with the same photoperiod as red clover. Coated treatments significantly improved germination rate and uniformity with no reduction in total germination, compared to the non-treated controls in red clover. In contrast, for perennial ryegrass, the total germination percentage of all coated seeds was reduced and displayed a delayed germination rate, compared with the non-treated controls. Shoot length, seedling vigor index, and dry weight of seedlings of coated seed treatments of both crops were significantly higher when compared to controls for both species. In addition to growth metrics, specific surface mechanical properties related to seed coating quality of seeds of both species were evaluated. Increasing the proportion of soy flour as a seed treatment binder in the coating blend increased the integrity and compressive strength of coated seeds, and the time for coatings to disintegrate. These data show that seed coating technologies incorporating nutritional materials and biostimulants can enhance seedling growth and have the potential to facilitate the establishment of cover crops in agriculture and land reclamation. Full article