The influence of seed coating on the vigor and early seedling growth of barley

Summary

Seed coating is a process in which a thin and uniform polymer layer is deposited on the surface of a seed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vigor of barley seed coated with a commercial polymer and various combinations of calcium, silicon and fungicide. In addition to a control with only the polymer coating, a total of 17 seed coating treatments were used in a completely randomized factorial design (18 treatments × 4 replicates per treatment). Calcium and silicon were applied at concentrations of 0, 25 or 50 g kg-1 of seed, and 0 or 3.0 mL of fungicide was applied. The means were compared using a Duncan test (P≤0.05). The results showed that a coating of polymer, fungicide, calcium and silicon did not affect the physiological quality of the barley seed and that the use of these products can protect the seed against pathogens without affecting the rate of emergence of the barley seedlings while ensuring good Seed appearance, adhesion, distribution and coloration. Seed coating consists of the deposition of a thin and uniform layer of a polymer on the surface of the seed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vigor of barley seeds, coated with calcium and silicon, commercial polymer and fungicide. The treatments consisted of two concentrations of calcium and silicon for seed coating, with levels of 0, 25 and 50 g kg-1 seed. 3.0 mL of fungicide was used and a total of 17 treatments and a control, without any treatment. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme (18×4) and the results were analyzed through the comparison of means, using Duncan's test (P≤0.05). The results showed that the barley seeds coated with fungicide, calcium and silicon were not affected in their physiological quality and, possibly, the use of these products protects the seed against pathogens, without affecting their speed of appearance, and provides seeds with good appearance, adherence, distribution and coloration.