RHIZOBIAL COATING

What is?

Rhizobial coating is to enriching the rhizosphere microenvironment with organic nutrients for early establishment.

Methodology

• Take the seeds in a plastic tray
• Add proper quantity of adhesive (cool maida 10% gruel) to the seeds or jaggery
• Shake gently so that the adhesive spreads evenly on all the seeds
• Sprinkle the required biofertilizer (Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Azotobactor) evenly over the seeds and continue shaking.
• The wet seed surface will attract the biofertilizer and result in even coating over the seeds
• Roll the seed for uniformity
• Shade dry the seed

Recommendations
     
Seed rhizobial coating with 10% maida gruel @ 200-300ml/ kg of seeds and coating with biofertilizer @ 200-300 g per kg of seed improve the field emergence of green gram, black gram, cotton, tomato and brinjal.

Precautions

• Seeds should not spill while shaking
• Adhesive should not be added excess. Since it will lead to formation of seed dumps.
• Inadequate application of adhesive will result in uneven seed coating
• Separate the seeds dumps formed, if any manually.
• Empty the seeds on a sheet of paper and allow it to dry for a day.

Advantages

• It improves fertility at rhizosphere region with organic matter.
• The mechanical planting of seeds is facilitated.
• Seed are uniform in size and shape
• Easy handling of seed
• In mechanical separation seed flow easily which prevent dumping together
• Small and irregular shaped seeds can be handled easily by pelleting which changes the shape of the seeds.
• Permits precision planting in very small seeds which results in uniform seedling emergence
• Improved ballistics properties. Pelleting increases the weight of seed therefore increase the capacity of aerially sown seed to penetrate in to standing vegetation in tree species.
• Handling of small seeds is made easy which in turn reduces the seed rate.

Updated : Jan, 2016