Why does healthy barley grain sometimes not germinate?
Dormancy and Viability Within any given sample of grain a certain number will not germinate because they are dead. Some of the same sample will not germinate but they are alive. These seeds are said to be ‘immature’ and dormant. Dormancy is common after a cool damp season, but it occurs less after a hot dry harvesting season. Estimates of viability and dormancy vary with the methods of assessment. Tests are carried out on samples of grain, and results are expressed as percentages.
