Germination Percentage Calculator
Work out germination % from a simple seed test and adjust your seed rate to match.
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Please note: This calculator provides a mathematical estimate based on the values entered. Recommended agricultural application rates can vary by crop, soil, product formulation, location and official agricultural guidance. Check the product label and local agricultural recommendations before application.
Put 100 seeds on a damp cloth, wait a few days, and count how many sprout. Enter the numbers here to get your germination percentage – and, if you like, how much you should raise your seed rate to make up for poor germination.
About the Germination Percentage Calculator
A germination test is the cheapest insurance you can buy before sowing. It costs a handful of seeds and a few days, and it tells you whether the seed you are about to put in the ground is actually alive. Farm-saved seed, seed stored through a hot summer, and seed bought loose are the ones most worth testing.
The germination percentage is simply the share of seeds that produced a normal seedling:
Germination % = Seeds germinated ÷ Seeds tested × 100If the result is lower than the germination your recommended seed rate assumes, you can compensate by sowing more. That's what the optional "adjusted seed rate" does: it scales the recommended rate up (or down) in proportion to your test result.
How to do a simple germination test
- Count out 100 seeds at random from the lot – don't pick the best-looking ones.
- Place them in rows on a wet cotton cloth, gunny bag or several layers of paper towel. Roll it up loosely.
- Keep the roll moist and in the shade at room temperature. Check it daily and don't let it dry out.
- After 5–7 days (longer for some crops), unroll and count seeds that have produced a healthy root and shoot. Ignore rotten seeds and abnormal sprouts.
- For a more reliable figure, run 2–4 lots of 100 seeds and average the results.
How to use the Germination Percentage Calculator
- 1 Enter how many seeds you tested (100 is standard).
- 2 Enter how many produced a normal seedling.
- 3 Optionally, enter the recommended seed rate for your crop and the germination it assumes, to get an adjusted rate.
- 4 Press Calculate.
The formula we use
Germination % = Germinated ÷ Tested × 100
Adjusted seed rate = Recommended rate × Assumed germination ÷ Actual germinationWorked example
You test 100 wheat seeds saved from last season and 84 sprout.
- Germination = 84 ÷ 100 × 100 = 84%.
- If your usual rate is 40 kg per acre, based on seed with 85% germination, the adjusted rate is 40 × 85 ÷ 84 = 40.48 kg per acre – barely any change.
- If only 70 had sprouted, the adjusted rate would be 40 × 85 ÷ 70 = 48.6 kg – about 21% more seed.
Things to keep in mind
- Below about 70%, think twice. Very low germination often means weak seedlings too. Sowing more seed makes up the numbers but not the vigour – buying fresh seed may be better.
- Test close to sowing. Germination can fall during storage, so test within a few weeks of sowing.
- Some seeds are dormant. Freshly harvested seed of some crops may not germinate straight away even though it is alive.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good germination percentage?
It depends on the crop. Indian seed certification standards typically require around 80–85% for cereals like wheat and paddy, 90% for maize, and 65–75% for some vegetables and oilseeds. Check the standard for your crop.
How many days does a germination test take?
Usually 5–7 days for cereals and pulses. Some vegetables and seeds with hard coats need 10–14 days.
Should I increase seed rate for low germination?
Within reason, yes – scale it by the ratio of expected to actual germination. If germination is very low, the seed lot may also produce weak plants, so fresh seed is often the better option.
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