Effect of Seed Coating on Seed Quality and Storability of Oat (Avena sativa L.) under Storage

Abstract

Seed deterioration during storage reduces seed viability, seedling vigour and field establishment in oat (Avena sativa L.). This study evaluated the effect of seed coating treatments on seed quality and storability of oat variety Palampur-1 under ambient storage conditions. Carry-over seeds from the Rabi 2021-22 crop were graded, dried to approximately 8.0% moisture content, and treated with polymer, fungicides, insecticide and biofungicides in ten treatment combinations, including an untreated control. Treated and untreated seeds were packed in interwoven high-density polyethylene bags and stored from April 2023 to April 2024. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomised design with three replications, and seed quality parameters were recorded initially and at bimonthly intervals for up to twelve months. Seed germination, rate of germination, seedling length, seedling dry weight, vigour indices, field emergence, moisture content and test weight were assessed during storage. Seed quality declined gradually in all treatments as storage duration increased; however, coated seeds maintained better quality than the untreated control. After twelve months of storage, polymer + vitavax power containing thiram 37.5% and carboxin 37.5% @ 2.0 g/kg seed recorded the highest final germination (99.00%), first count (98.67%), rate of germination (48.42), seedling length (40.64 cm), 10-seedling dry weight (0.0958 g) and field emergence (89.00%). The findings indicate that polymer coating combined with vitavax power was effective in maintaining oat seed quality during storage under the conditions of this study.