Analyzing the Impact of Chemical and Biofertilizer Seed Treatments on the Quality of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seeds

Author: Sultan Singh, Virender Singh Mor, Axay Bhuker, Gagandeep Singh, Digamber and Rahul Kumar

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Abstract

Seed is the most crucial input for gaining a plentiful output. The germination of the seed in the field condition is hampered by various edaphic factors alongwith different pests. So it becomes necessary to treat the seed before sowing with various chemical and biological agents. That’s why seed treatment with insecticides, fungicides and biofertilizers has gained significant importance as a practice to ensure the initial establishment of crops. This escalating dependence has, in turn, led to a gradual decline in the production of high-quality seeds. This study was undertaken to examine the impact of chlorpyrifos, vitavax, Azotobacter and phosphate solubilizing bacteria on seed quality of wheat during 2018 to 2020 at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana. In this study, two wheat varieties WH1105 and WH1124 and their one year old harvested seeds and freshly harvested seed lots were used. The findings revealed that seeds treated with T2-Azotobacter+PSB showed significant results across several parameters. The maximum speed of germination was recorded in treatment T6-(Chlorpyrifos+Azotobacter+PSB) and chlorpyrifos subsequently led to the germination of abnormal seedlings. In other parameters such as, germination, seedling length, seedling dry weight, vigor indices, field emergence index and seedling establishment were observed maximum with treatment T2-Azotobacter+PSB. The findings suggest that biofertilizers deliver a positive enhancement to seed quality and serve as a feasible alternative to pesticides. It has been observed that biofertilizers contribute to increased speed of germination, germination percentage, vigor indices, field emergence, and seedling establishment both in the laboratory and in the field. On the other hand, it has been observed that fungicides and insecticides negatively affect seed quality.

Keywords

Azotobacter, Biofertilizers, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, Treatments, Wheat, Quality seed

Conclusion

Based on the current investigation, it can be ascertained that seed treatment with T2-Azotobacter+PSB had maximum improvement in all seed quality parameters and it was the best treatment combination for enhancing the quality of the wheat seeds. During the combined application of chlorpyrifos, vitavax, and biofertilizers, it leads to a decline in the quality of wheat seeds.

References

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How to cite this article

Sultan Singh, Virender Singh Mor, Axay Bhuker, Gagandeep Singh, Digamber and Rahul Kumar (2023). Analyzing theImpact of Chemical and Biofertilizer Seed Treatments on the Quality of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seeds. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 699-705.