Seed Germination Seed germination is the process in which seeds or spores germinate and begin to grow after remaining dormant for a period of time. The duration of dormancy varies depending on the environmental conditions surrounding the seed. The environmental conditions that determine when a seed will begin to germinate are temperature, oxygen, amount of light, and water supply (Germination, accessed February 23, 2010, http://www.answers.com/topic/germination) For a seed to start germinating, the temperature should be between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. Radish seeds, however, prefer to grow in cooler temperatures, from 10 to 18 degrees Celsius. The seed also requires large quantities of oxygen to initiate germination, obtained from the air and soil moisture. If the seed is sown deep into the soil, it will fail to germinate due to lack of oxygen. Light is necessary for germination to begin, however the germination of some seeds is hindered by light (Factors Affecting Seed Germination, accessed February 23, 2010, http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology- iv/plant-growth-movements/ influencing-seed-germination.php). Water supply is the main requirement for germination since there is no water in a mature seed embryo. The seed therefore needs to absorb water to activate and start germinating. (Yahya,H, 2010, The Miracle in the seed, accessed 13 March 2010, http://www.harunyahya.com/books/science/seed/seed6.php). If a plant is watered with too little water it becomes weak, this happens when they lose water faster than they get it from the soil. Before the plant begins to lose strength, the pores of the stomata close, which helps keep water inside but allows less carbon dioxide to enter the p...... center of the paper.... .. e_difference_between.html?cat=32Hoyum, K, The Difference Between Potting Soil and Garden Soil, accessed March 3, 2010, http://www.gardenguides.com/101529-differences-between-potting-soil-garden-soil .htmlMulch, accessed 9 March 2010, http:// /users.netconnect.com.au/~ewood/mulch.htmlYoung, I, 2004, Plants and pH, accessed 10 March 2010, http://angel-patti03. tripod.com/id3.html.Doser, A, 2003, pH and its effects on plants, accessed 10 March 2010, http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2003/Projects/S1607.pdfPlant Nutrients, accessed March 10, 2010, http://www.ncagr.gov /cyber/kidswrld/plant/nutrient.htm(Yahya,H, 2010, The Miracle in the seed, accessed March 13, 2010, http://www.harunyahya.com /books/science/seed/seed6.php)McKenzie, R, May 15, 2003, Soil pH and plant nutrients, accessed March 12, 2010, http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf /all/agdex6607