Effect of organics in enhancing seed storability of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L)

The study was conducted undertaken to know the effect organic seed treatment on seed storability of chickpea. Seeds were treated with both organic [Neem seed kernel powder (50 and100 g/kg), Neem leaf powder (50 and 100 g/kg), Neem oil (5 ml/kg), Castor oil (5 ml/kg), Sweet flag rhizome powder (20 g/kg)] and inorganic Insecticides [Malathion dust (5 g/kg) and Thiram (2 g/kg)]. Among the different seed treatments, the seed treatment with castor oil (5ml/kg of seed) has maintained minimum prescribed seed germination (85.67%) up to eighteen months along with the highest seedling vigour index I and II (1870 and 4118), and lowest insect damage (6%) as compared to control (82.67%, 1587, 3326 and 52% ). Whereas lower seed germination was observed in control seeds (82.67%) treated with neem seed kernel powder, lower seedling vigour index-I in neem oil (5ml/kg), seedling vigour index-II was observed in control. So castor oil @ 5ml per kg of seeds has found effective in maintaining the seed quality with minimum seed infestation for more than twenty months of storage.