The effect of soil fertility and harvesting stage on maize seed quality under rain-fed conditions

Abstract

Management practices during seed development are crucial for boosting seed quality and establishment. This study determined the interactive effect of soil fertility and maturity stage on maize seed quality. The cultivar SC701 were harvested at milk, dent, and physiological maturity stages and dried to <12% moisture content. Field trials were split plots replicated four times. Seed quality was evaluated using standard germination test, vigor indices and electrical conductivity test. Highly significant interactions (p < .001) occurred for most of the seedling germination and vigor parameters measured. The interactions had strong impact on the germination characteristics and vigor of seeds at dent and physiological maturity. Seeds at dent stage under optimal fertilization gave higher seed quality. Optimal fertilizer application and harvesting at physiological maturity leads to maximum acquisition of seed vigor. However, in the presence of adverse weather conditions seeds from late dent stage under optimally fertilized conditions still give high seed quality.