Effect of Different Liquid Bio-Fertilizers on Seed Quality Parameters of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Aparna Jyoti
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSAU&T), Kanpur, India.
C.L. Maurya *
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSAU&T), Kanpur, India.
Vijay Laxmi
Department of Crop Physiology, Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, India.
Hemant Kumar
Department of Agricultural Statistics, Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, India.
Shahil Kumar
Department of Seed Science and Technology, RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, India.
Avanji Saini
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSAU&T), Kanpur, India.
Ajay Pratap Singh
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSAU&T), Kanpur, India.
Jay Singh
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSAU&T), Kanpur, India.
Narang Kapoor
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSAU&T), Kanpur, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study investigates the comparative effects of different liquid biofertilizers and the chemical fungicide Thiram on seed quality parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), using variety K1317 under laboratory conditions over two years (2023–2024) at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. 10 treatment combinations, including 5 liquid biofertilizers (EM culture, PSB, KSB, Pseudomonas, Azospirillum), Thiram, and an untreated control, were evaluated in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Key parameters—physical seed quality, germination dynamics, seedling growth, and vigour indices—were measured and statistically analyzed using ANOVA at a 5% significance level and 95% confidence interval. Results revealed that seeds treated with Azospirillum + PSB (T8, 20 ml/kg seed) consistently performed best, demonstrating significant improvements in test weight, seed L/B ratio, germination rate, seedling length, seedling dry weight, and vigour indices compared to control. These findings underscore the dual benefits of liquid biofertilizer application: sustainable crop production and enhanced seed physiological quality. The study concludes that adopting liquid biofertilizer treatments, particularly Azospirillum + PSB, provides an environmentally responsible pathway for producing high-vigour, nutrient-rich wheat seeds, offering superior alternatives to conventional chemical seed treatments.
Keywords: Wheat, biofertilizer, seed treatment, growth parameters, RBD, azospirillum, PSB, thiram, Python, MATLAB