KANGKAN DEBNATH, VINOD KUMAR*, SEEMA S. DODDAMANI AND CHANDRASHEKHAR S. S.
Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad-580005, Karnataka
Indian Grassland and Fodder Research institute, Dharwad-580 005 (Karnataka), India
*(e-mail: vinoddhone@gmail.com)
(Received: 24 April 2024; Accepted: 4 September 2024)
SUMMARY
The most significant drawback of grass seed is their low germination capacity, ranging from 12.0% to 17.5%, coupled with a lack of caryopsis, resulting in poor seed set. To address this issue and promote better seedling establishment, the process of multiple seed pelleting is deemed essential. This investigation focuses on evaluating various filler materials suitable for seed pelleting, specifically aimed at identifying the most economical and efficient option for farm-level use in fluffed seeds of dinanath grass. The experiment involved the assessment of eight different indigenously available fillers: soil, sawdust, wheat bran, charcoal, vermicompost, FYM (Farm Yard Manure), limestone, and biogas slurry powder. Fluffed seeds of dinanath grass were pelleted with these fillers using a gum arabica solution (50%) as the adhesive material. Standardization of filler quantity and adhesive requirement was conducted for each filler material. The laboratory investigation revealed soil to be the most suitable filler material based on various parameters studied. While limestone pellets exhibited the maximum pellet diameter and individual pellet weight, soil pellets demonstrated higher uniformity in pellet diameter and could accommodate the maximum number of seeds within each pellet. Consequently, soil pellets resulted in higher seed germination rates per pellet. Moreover, soil pellets exhibited favorable characteristics such as easy breakage upon water imbibition, rendering them more suitable for pelleting purposes.
Key words: Dinanath grass, seed pelleting, filler material, soil pellets, seed germination