Impact of Fertilizers on the Seed Quality of Aromatic Rice

M F Hossain

doi:10.5539/jas.v6n6p35

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in field and laboratory to evaluate the effect of fertilizer application doses in mother plant plots on seed viability, germination and vigor (seedling length) of aromatic rice. The aromatic rice varieties Kataribhog, Badshabhog and BRRI dhan37 were grown with five fertilizer treatments viz., control (no fertilizer), recommended NPKSZn chemical fertilizers, cow dung 5 t/ha, green manure (Sesbania rostrata) 10 t/ha and recommended NPKSZn chemical fertilizers with green manure (Sesbania rostrata) 5 t/ha. Seed quality parameters viability, germination and vigor were determined after six months of storage period. Results from tests in the laboratory showed that viability, germination, vigor of aromatic rice seeds were affected by applications of different fertilizer doses in mother plant field, variety and interaction of variety & fertilizer. All the fertilizer treatments except recommended NPKSZn chemical fertilizer dose kept an acceptable level of germination percentage (>80%) but without fertilizer treatment shows better performance in respect of viability, germination and seedling length. Local aromatic rice varieties Kataribhog and Badshabhog performed better than modern aromatic rice variety BRRI dhan37.

Highlights

The quality and quantity of seed depend upon different factors include soil, climate and performance of agricultural operations during the growth of the mother plant from planting to harvest (McDonald & Copeland, 1997)
Results from tests in the laboratory showed that viability, germination, vigor of aromatic rice seeds were affected by applications of different fertilizer doses in mother plant field, variety and interaction of variety & fertilizer
The lowest viability percentage after six-month storage was found under recommended NPKSZn chemical fertilizer dose (T2) that was statistically similar to T3 and T4 treatment (Green manure 10 t/ha) (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

The quality and quantity of seed depend upon different factors include soil, climate and performance of agricultural operations during the growth of the mother plant from planting to harvest (McDonald & Copeland, 1997). The increasing costs of chemical inputs have left farmers helpless, resulting to decreasing seed quality of certain crops and resulting in the fall of commodity prices and reducing farm income (Tung & Fernandez, 2007; Khadem et al, 2010). In such situation the organic fertilizer play a major role in order to achieve sustainable agriculture. The germination, viability and vigor are considered as the most important quality characteristics of the seed and obtaining of appropriate values is the main aim of successful program of seed production. Several factors like; genetic constitution, environment and nutrition of mother plant, maturity at harvest, seed weight and size, mechanical integrity, deterioration, ageing and pathogens are known to influence seed vigor (Perry, 1980)

Methods

Results

Conclusion