Standardization of pre-sowing seed treatments to produce elite seedlings in jatropha (Jatropha curcas Linn.).

摘要

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of pre-sowing seed treatments on seed survival per cent and seedling vigour in jatropha (Jatropha curcas Linn.). The treatment was effected through soaking of the seeds with 1.0 and 2.0% solutions of ferrous sulphate (FeSO4), zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), manganese sulphate (MnSO4), calcium chloride (CaCl2) and potassium chloride (KCl) alongwith water soaking for 12 and 24 h adopting equal volume of seed to solution ratio and dried back to original moisture content and the dry seed served as control. The results revealed that in all the nutrients the seeds soaked with 1% proved better performance than 2% solutions. Among the different nutrients, seeds treated with zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 1% for 24 h exhibited highest survival percentage (86) which was on par with KCl @ 1% for 24 h (85%) at 60 days after sowing. However, other seedling quality characteristics viz., root length (22.9 cm), shoot length (34.5 cm), number of leaves (15.6) and stem girth (3.9 cm) were highest with KCl @ 1% for 24 h compared to control.