Effect of shock compression on germination rate of plant seeds

The influence of shock compression on the germination rate of plant seeds was investigated experimentally by a light gas gun and numerically by finite element method. The deformation of cover-plate and the shock wave propagation in groove were simulated by ANSYS AUTODYN. The germination rates of two kinds of plant seeds (alfalfa and turnip) were assayed after experiments, and the experimental results indicated the different sensitivity of these two seeds and the relationship between germination rate and peak pressure. At the peak pressure of 385 MPa, the relative germination rates of alfalfa and turnip seeds were decreased to 65.4% and 6.1%, respectively. Different type of damage seeds were observed by a scanning electron microscope. It is believed that the damage is only a minor factor for germination rate of plant seeds.