English: Premature germination of maize. Soil acidity reduces molybdenum (Mo) availability - in some soils this results in poor Mo nutrition. Molybdenum is essential for nitrate reductase activity, and Mo deficiency can result in a build-up of nitrate in maize grain. This, in turn, can predispose the grain to premature germination. This photograph illustrates the germination of maize grain (still on the cob on standing maize) that is not yet sufficiently dry to harvest. This was from a zero-lime plot in a liming trial. The soil pH (in 1 M KCl) was 3.75 and the acid saturation was 74%. Soil pH (water) was not measured, but was probably between 4.2 and 4.4. There was no evidence of premature germination on limed plots. Reference: Farwell, A.J., Farina, M.P.W. and Channon, P., 1991. Soil acidity effects on premature germination in immature maize grain. In Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH (pp. 355-361). Springer Netherlands.