Tree Species Germination: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis and its Implications for Pre-Sowing Treatment in Bangladesh

Abstract

In Bangladesh, pre-sowing treatments significantly impact forestry species, employing water, temperature, and chemical methods to enhance seed germination. This meta-analysis, encompassing 17 research articles, emphasizes the prevalence of these treatments, with 11 studies dedicated to pre-sowing techniques and 6 as a comparison group without treatment. Findings reveal substantial heterogeneity attributed to low replications and ecological factors highlighted in articles. To address this, we recommend a balanced number of replications, considering ecological factors, to enhance research reliability in forest restoration and seed germination. Factors affecting seed germination, such as pressure, temperature, sunlight, and water stress, unfold in five stages: imbibition, respiration, light effect, mobilization of reserves, and embryo development. The seed coat layer impedes germination, and various pre-sowing treatments in Bangladesh, including mechanical, water soaking, heat, and chemical treatments, mitigate this hindrance. While this meta-analysis sheds light on ecological factors and seed performance, its limited scale underscores the need for broader studies assessing treatment effects using standardized measures.