Millet seeds mixed with phosphate fertilizers

Abstract

The small size of millet seeds is the main cause for lack of uniformity at sowing, especially because most farmers do not have appropriate seeders. Mixing seeds and phosphate fertilizers would improve seeding, resulting in a better crop stand. To study the effects of such mixture on the physiological quality of seeds, millet seeds were mixed with single superphosphate or triple superphosphate (1 kg of seeds: 2.5 kg of fertilizer), and stored in plastic bags for 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours before sowing, under laboratory conditions. After storage, seeds were separated and their moisture and electrical conductivity were determined. Seeds were then submitted to germination test under laboratory conditions. Seeds mixed with fertilizer and non-mixed seeds, utilized as a control, were sown under greenhouse conditions and the percentage of emergence and seedling emergence speed were determined. Because of acidic residues, the single and triple superphosphates negatively affected the germination and vigor of millet seeds proportionally to the increase in time of contact with the fertilizer.