Standardization of Seed Coating Polymer in Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)
Mallikarjun G. Handiganoor *
Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur – 584 104, Karnataka, India.
S. B. Patil
Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Vijayapur, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad– 580 005, Karnataka, India.
S. N. Vasudevan
Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur – 584 104, Karnataka, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Laboratory experiment was conducted with the objective to standardize the seed coating polymer in Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.). The experiment consisted of five different dosages of polymer (P) along with a control viz., P1: Control, P2: polymer @ 2 ml per kg of seed, P3: polymer @ 4 ml per kg of seed, P4: polymer @ 6 ml per kg of seed, P5: polymer @ 8 ml per kg of seed, P6: polymer @ 10 ml per kg of seed. Among the treatments imposed, seed coating polymer @ 8 ml/kg of pigeonpea seeds recorded significantly higher germination, speed of germination, shoot length (cm), root length (cm), seedling dry weight (mg/seedling) and seedling vigour index (SVI) as compared to control. However, seed coating polymer @ 8 ml/kg of seed was significantly not different with the results obtained by seed coating polymer (@ 10 ml/kg and @ 6 ml/kg respectively) of seed. Therefore, the polymer @ 6 ml/kg of seed was found to be economically feasible over all the treatments.
Keywords: Pigeonpea, polymer dosage, seed coating polymer, seed quality, standardization