Agricultural crops Production

1. Characteristics of Good
Quality Seeds

2. Introduction
Seed Quality is defined as variedly pure
with high germination percentage, free
from disease and disease organisms, and
with a proper moisture content and
weight. Quality seed insures good
germination, rapid emergence, and
vigorous growth.

3. Classes of High Quality seeds
Rice
TAG COLOR SEED CLASS
White Tag Breeder Seeds (BS) – produced
from uniform panicles (nucleus
seeds)
Red tag Foundation Seeds (FS) –
produced from breeder seeds
Green tag Registered Seeds (RS) –
produced from foundation
seeds
Blue tag Certified Seeds (CS) – produced
from registered seeds

4. SEED GRAIN
It should be viable Need not viable
It should have maximum genetic and physical
purity
Not so
Should satisfy minimum seed certification No such requirement
Treated with pesticide/fungicide to protect seed
against storage pests and fungi
Not treated with any chemicals since used for
consumption
Respiration rate and other physiological and
biological processes should be kept at low level
during storage
No such specification
Production is technically organized Not so
It should satisfy all the seed quality attributes No need

5. Benefits of using quality seeds
1. They are genetically pure (true to type)
2. The good quality seed has high return per unit area as the
genetic potentiality of the crop can be fully exploited.
3. Less infestation of land with weed seed/other crop seed.
4. Less disease and insect problem.
5. Minimization of seed/seedling rate, fast and uniform
emergence of seedling
6. They are vigorous, free from pest and disease.
7. They can be adopted themselves for extreme climatic
condition and cropping system location.

6. 8.The quality seed respond well to the applied fertilizer
and nutrients.
9.Uniform in plant population and maturity.
10. Crop raised with quality seed are aesthetically
pleasing.
11. Good seed prolongs life of variety.
12. Yield prediction is easy.
13. Handling in post-harvest operation will be easy.
14. Preparation of finished products are also better.
15. High produce value and their marketability.

7. SECURING SEEDS
2 ways of securing seeds to plant:
- You can buy seeds from seed stores or order from
reliable sources.
- You can produce your own seeds to plant
Factors to consider in securing your seed to plant:
- Varieties should be adopted to your locality
- Quality of the product

8. Advantages of producing your own seed:
- you shall have an ever ready supply of seeds for your farm.
- Higher percentage of germination is assured
- Improvement of quality and quantity of product is possible.
Disadvantage of producing your seed:
- Seed growing is an exacting work.
- It competes with the normal work in the nursery management.
- It calls for knowledge of the principle of plant breeding.
- It calls for keen observation
- It requires close application of details.