Assessing efficiency of seed hardening treatments in blackgram

Abstract

Seed is a biological entity and its quality is improved through seed hardening. Seed hardening is a simple method to alter the physiological and biochemical nature of the seeds. Any successful technology could be performed well in farmer field and their feedback will be helpful for fine tuning of the technology. On farm trial was conducted in farmers field with two seed hardening treatments viz., (i) Seed hardening with Zinc sulphate @ 0.1g/lit for 3 hr and (ii) Seed hardening with Sodium molybdate @ 0.5g/lit for 3 hr along with untreated seeds as a control during Rabi, 2017-18. The results revealed that seed hardening with Sodium molybdate @ 0.5g/lit performed better interms of yield (678 kg/ha), net return (Rs.23,125/ ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.81) compared to seed hardening with Zinc sulphate @ 0.1g/lit and control and which was 669 kg/ha, Rs.21913/ha, 1.77 and 514 kg/ha, Rs.12159 /ha, 1.45, respectively. However, the minimum yield difference was observed between the seed hardening treatments but both seed hardening treatment were excelled over the control. Hence, seed hardening with Sodium molybdate @ 0.5g/lit or Zinc sulphate @ 0.1g/lit for 3 hr found effective in increasing the yield in blackgram. The knowledge level of farmers on seed hardening treatments increased from 13 to 70 per cent which was made through on farm testing programme.