The effects of organic fortification with pulse sprout extracts from horse gram and cowpea on the seedling quality characteristics of rice variety Co. 43

Abstract

Rice is the staple food for over half of the Indian population ways and means to fortify seeds organically for better seed vigour has become important and emphasized. Seed fortification is one of the important seed invigouration treatment. The study was conducted to determine the effects of seed fortification with pulse sprout extract on seedling quality characteristics of rice seeds. Laboratory experiment was conducted with the treatments which include fortification of rice seeds with water soaking, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% of horse gram sprout extract and cowpea sprout extract. Seed fortification was done in seeds with 12 ± 1% moisture content by soaking for 12 h. Later the soaked seeds were dried in shade for one day followed by sun drying to reach the original moisture content. The seedling quality characteristics were radical protrusion (%), days to maximum germination (days), speed of germination, germination (%), shoot length (cm), root length (cm), vigour index and dry matter production (g seedlings-10). Among all the treatments used, 2% horse gram sprout extract enhanced comparatively better seedling quality characteristics. Hence, seed fortification with 2% horse gram sprout extract could be recommended for rice as a pre-sowing seed invigorative treatment. Key words: Rice seeds, germination, vigour index, pulse sprout extract, horse gram, cowpea.