Seeds are an important determinant to plant growth. They contain DNA information and nutrient from the parent plant which they use to sprout a new plant. Having a good seed treatment strategy can be key to achieving high productivity of farm.

A seed usually needs a number of items before it germinates water, good temperature and a favorable soil. Once these needs are met, the seed utilizes the nutrients within itself to sprout a young plant.

It can be tempting to plant a seed directly after purchase and let nature do its work. But this may not be best in the long run. It is necessary to ensure seeds to be planted are in good condition by treating seeds using a number of techniques. This would help give your seeds an increased chance of success

Water Soak Method

Seeds that have being harvested and stored for a long time fall the risk of becoming dormant. When a seed is dormant it becomes difficult for it to germinate after planting. In some cases, this is caused by seeds being coated with non-biological materials. By soaking and washing seeds, a farmer can free up dirt and soften the outer layer of seed. To use this procedure, seeds are soaked in warm water for 12 – 24 hours and then sun dried for a number of hours before planting.

Soaking seeds can also serve a method of determining good seed. Seeds that do not sink to the bottom of the container should be discarded off.

Chemical Application Method

Seeds contain information about the genetic makeup of its parent plant. And this information is used to sprout new plants. This means if the parent plant was infected with a disease, there is a good chance the seed would also be infected. Seeds can also be infected by fungi or attacked by insect before they sprout. For these reasons, it is necessary to pre-treat seeds before planting.

Chemicals used in treating seeds can be a fungicide or insecticide or both. Other chemicals can increase the drought resistibility ability of plants, while some can even eliminate the need for fertilizer.

There are different chemicals for different types of seeds, Chemicals are used by mixing with seeds in a container and shaking container thoroughly till seeds are well coated.A farmer can also choose to purchase pre-treated seeds from trusted companies.


ADVANTAGES OF PRE-TREATED SEEDS


Allow for easier germination

By pre-treating seeds, a farmer break dormancy and make seeds come alive. This reduces time a seed takes to germinate and reduces overall time of planting to harvest.

In locations where farmers have a short rainy season before drought, every little time is important.


Protect against insect pests and disease

By planting pre-treated seed or treating seeds, a farmer can control fungi infestation. This helps to have vibrant and clean plants, and lead to fast growth. Attack by insects are also inhibited as chemical coating makes seeds less appealing to pest.

Saves money

Quick germinating plants with little expenses on chemical control is ideal for every farmer. Overhead costs can be reduced leading to better Return on investment on farm.

To get better yield on farms, farmers have to utilize better techniques and incorporate the use of technology on farms. ProbityFarms is a data driven solution, that allows farmers to keep track of costs and activities on farm. For other features visit www.probityfarms.com

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