Sudeep Acharya /

Introduction

Seed is matured ovule that consist an embryonic plant together with a store of food, all surrounded by a protective coat. Seed are the foundation of agriculture. The technology has modernized day to day farming operation, but without high quality seed ,crop quality and yield would be greatly decreased. Seed quality is the possession of seed with required genetic and physical purity that is accompanied with physiological soundness and health status.Seed quality is the possession of seed with required genetic and physical purity that is accompanied with physiological soundness and health status.The poor seed quality results in unnecessarythinning or reduction of yield due to overcrowding ,all of which minimize profitability.Thus,quality seed plays a vital role in agriculture.

Characteristics of quality seed:

Seed must be genetically pure

Breeder /Nucleus   – 100%

                                        Foundation seed     – 99.5%

                                         Certified seed         – 99.0%

Seed must be free from other crop seeds

Other crop seeds are the plants of cultivated crops found in the seed field and whose seed are so similar to crop seed that is difficult to separate them economically by mechanical means.  Cause physical admixture with the crop seed only when these crop mature approximately at the same time when seed crop matures.

Seed should be free from objectionable weed seeds

The size and shape of the weeds seeds are so similar to that of the crop seed that is difficult to remove their seed economically by  mechanical means.so the seed must be free from any other weeds seeds.

Seed should be free from designated diseases

The diseases would  cause contamination, when they are present in the seed field or with in the specified isolation distance ( eg. loose smut of wheat). For this the the certification distance has been prescribed as 180 meters

IT should have optimum moisture content for storage 

                             Long term storage     – 6 – 8 %

                             Short term storage    – 10-13% 

It should have high market value

It must have high germination and vigour

Importance of Quality seed

1.Seed  is vital input in crop production ;

Seed is the cheapest input in crop production and key to agriculture progress

Crop status largely depends on the seed materials for used for sowing

Response of other inputs depends on seed

2.The seed requirement for raising crop quite small and its cost is so less compared to other inputs

3.This is the need for increasing the area under quality seed production.

4.It is estimated that good quality seed to improved varities can contribute abot 20-25% increase in yield

Role of Quality seed;

1.Quality seed plays important role in carrier of new technology

2.They are the principle means to obtain crop yields in less favarable production area

3. They are the basic tools for secure food supply

4They are the medium for rapid rehabilation of agriculture after natural disasters

(BSC .AG.4^th semester, IAAS,Lamjung Campus)