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ThesisItem Open Access Effect of Desiccants on Seed Quality Under Hermetic Storage(University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad, 2017-07) Kishore Kumar; Hilli, J.S.An investigation was undertaken with main objectives to know the effect of desiccants on seed quality parameters of crop seeds during storage and to assess the benefit cost ratio of storage method (economics) in wheat, bengalgram and sunflower with initial seed moisture content of 12.3, 10.2 and 8.9 per cent, respectively was carried out between August, 2016 to April, 2017 at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad. Quantity of desiccants stored per kilogram of seed in each crop viz. wheat, bengalgram and sunflower seeds is 0.37, 0.26 and 0.21 kg for zeolite beads (Rhino Research), one kg for both silica gel, calcium carbonate and control without desiccant in air tight container. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications. Seed stored with zeolite beads recorded the highest germination (88.8, 88.2 and 89.4 %) which was on par with silica gel (87.2, 86.8 and 88.0 %) at the end of storage period. Lower seed moisture, 100 seed weight was observed in the seeds stored with silica gel at the end of storage period. Higher rate of germination, shoot length, root length, seedling vigour-I, seedling dry weight and dehydrogenase activity was observed in seeds stored with zeolite beads which was on par with silica gel at the end of storage period. The maximum benefit cost ratio of (14.57:1, 18.11:1 and 71.88:1) and (12.7:1, 16.28:1 and 67.85:1) was recorded with zeolite beads and silica gel in wheat, bengalgram and sunflower crop, respectively at the end of storage period compared to control. Therefore, we can be concluded that the zeolite beads can be used safely for seed drying without impairment in seed quality.
