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Journal of Energy Bioscience
4
From the Table 2, the results shows that same as in
controlled condition the
Jatropha
seeds fortified with
0.5% K
2
SO
4
were improved the seed and seedling
quality characteristics viz., 55%, 24.4%, 48.8%,
24.1% and 69.4% over the control seeds, respectively
for seedling percent, root length, shoot length, dry
matter production and vigour index. Followed by
KNO
3
, KH
2
PO
4
and ZnSO
4
(0.5%) enhanced the seed
and seedling quality characters. Among the treatments,
1% Thiourea, MgSO
4
and Na
2
HPO
4
was found to
reduce the seed germination as 18% and 31.8%
respectively than the control due to the toxic effect on
physiological and biochemical processes within the
cell (Swartz, 1941).
The increase in seedling per cent obtained with 0.5%
K
2
SO
4
for 16 h might be due to the action of potash
and sulphur which, acted as invigourative agents that
maintained a state of swelling on hydration, which
would have congenial for the development of plasma
colloids and further seedling development (Kamfer
and Zehlar, 1967). Sulphur in K
2
SO
4
also increased
the levels of vitamins, biotins and thiamin and its
coenzymes in seeds and enhanced the growth rate of
seedling (Renugadevi et al. 2008).
The influence of the evaluated nutrients and two
different concentrations with 16 h durations of
soaking were both the positive and negative in
enhancing the seedling quality characteristics of
Jatropha.
Among the nutrients, depending on the
response with concentration, the nutrients viz., KNO
3
,
K
2
SO
4
, KH
2
PO
4
, ZnSO
4
, MnSO
4
and FeSO
4
(0.5%) at
16 h soaking were better compared to control seeds
which, might be due to the beneficial action of various
chemicals (Rattan and Goswami, 2003) in improving
the physiological function as below. However, the
seed quality characters were found to be invigourative
even with simple water soaking compared to the
control.
Kumaran et al. (1996) in neem also suggested that
soaking of seeds in 2% KH
2
PO
4
for 24 h improved the
germination and vigour of seeds. However, in Jatropha,
Kathiravan (2004) reported that 1% ZnSO
4
increased
the survival percent of seed at nursery by 16% and in
Bambusa
bamboo, Krishnaveni et al. (2010) found
that one per cent KNO
3
increased 29% seed
germination than controlled seeds at nursery condition.
In the present study with
Jatropha
seeds fortified with
0.5% K
2
SO
4
for sixteen hours in equal volume found
to have invigorative effect on the seed that resulted in
production of quality seedling and hence could be
advocated as a pre-sowing nursery management
technique for production of
Jatropha
seedling. Similar
study has also been reported by Masilamani and
Dharmalingam (1995), Singh et al. (1998), Gopikumar
et al. (1991), Palani et al. (1996), Agboola (2003),
Renugadevi et al. (2008) and Selvakumari et al.
(2007), on
Grevillea robusta
,
Commiphora weightii
,
Cassia fistula
,
Albizzia lebbeck
,
Ceiba pentandra
,
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba
and
Callistephus chinensis
respectively.
2 Conclusion
Thus the present study on seed fortification with
inorganic nutrients revealed that seed soaking with
0.5% K
2
SO
4
enhanced the seed germination by 44%
and 55% than control in both controlled germination
room and nursery bed respectively. Hence it could be
advocated as a pre-sowing nursery management
technique for production of
Jatropha
seedling.
However, when increasing concentration of some
inorganic nutrients such as thiourea, MgSO
4
and
Na
2
HPO
4
that reduced the seed germination.
3 Materials and Method
3.1 Seed source
The bulk seeds obtained from Coimbatore district
(11°1’6 N 76°58’21 E), Tamil Nadu, India. Well
stored Jatropha seeds were stored in ambient condition
in cloth bag in normal room temperature for six
months that seeds were used for this seed
enhancement study.
3.2 Experimentation and materials
Jatropha
seeds were fortified with inorganic nutrients
viz., Thiourea, KNO
3
(Potassium Nitrate), K
2
SO
4
(Potassium Sulphate),
KH
2
PO
4
,
(Potassium
dihydrogen phosphate),
Na
2
HPO
4
(Disodium
hydrogen phosphate), ZnSO
4
(Zinc Sulphate), FeSO
4
(Ferrous Sulphate), MgSO
4
(Megnisium sulphate),
MnSO
4
(Manganese sulphate), and NaCl (Sodium
chloride) in two concentrations viz., 0.5% and 1%.
Journal of Energy Bioscience