Standardization of different pre-sowing seed treatments on growth, yield and yield attributing traits of kodo millet (Paspalum scorbiculatum)

Paspalum scorbiculatum is an annual crop and has superior nutritional properties including high micronutrients, dietary fiber content and gluten free. It has low glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate diets help in prevention of obesity, diabeties and cardiovascular diseases, etc. The current study was aimed to find out the suitable pre-sowing seed treatments for Kodo millet. During the Kharif season 2019–2020 total of 12 pre-sowing seed treatments were subjected with botanicals, magnetic and electric fields, thermal (hot water) treatments and to fix the best treatment based on seed quality and morphological traits of treated seeds. Morphological traits play an major role in crop growth and development where as, the present investigation was carried out with farmer's variety in field (RBD) design in 3 replications and laboratory (CRD) design in 4 replications in order to "Standardization of different pre-sowing seed treatments on growth, yield and yield attributing traits of Kodo millet (Paspalum scorbiculatum). Seeds were subjected to various pre-sowing seed treatments viz. (T₀) control, exposure to magnetic field at 100 mT, 200 mT, 400 mT for 15,30 and 45 min; exposure to Electric field at 50 mA, 100 mA, 150 mA for 5,10, 15 min. Treatment with botanicals cow dung (5 gm) and Datura leaf extract (2.5 ml) for 12 hrs; Thermal hot water treatment at 46°C and 50°C for 10 min. Among all the treatments, T4-magnetic field (200 mT) gave the best results in field and lab conditions of field emergence (98.610) and germination% (98.5), Magnetic field (400 mT) shown the good results and significantly higher values of all other yield (45.867, 78.833, 660.480, 165.120) and morphological traits as well as seed quality parameters like shoot length (86.925), root length (44.55), seedling length (13.131), vigour index- I and II (1267.138 and 5.058), fresh (0.343) and dry (0.0524) weight of seedlings and comparatively control (T₀) was observed lowest to other treatments. As such, magnetic treatment is quite effective for seedling establishment to overcome low germination and yield which helps in Qualitative and Quantiative seed production of millets in sustainable agriculture.