Efficacy of seed treatment in rice (cv. Swarna masuri) for improved germinability and comparative study on field performance by conventional and system of rice intensification (SRI) technology

The loss of vigour and viability of rice seeds (high medium vigour) could be effectively controlled by pharmaceutical formulation viz., aspirin (ortho-acetyl salicylic acid, originally a chemical compound derived from salix, now commercially synthesized) @ 100 mg/kg of seed, crude plant material viz., neem leaf powder @ 2 g/kg of seed and hydration-dehydration treatment (soaking in double volume of water for 2 h at room temperature and then drying back to its original moisture content). The crop raised from the treated seeds in both SRI and conventional methods showed significant improvement on yield and other yield attributes. Among the treatments, dry treatments have shown better results in improving field-performance, especially in SRI method. The system of rice intensification (SRI) method of cultivation is marked superior to conventional method in increasing yield and yield attributes. The membrane functions as measured by electrical conductance of seed leachate and leakage of sugar were significantly lower in the treated seeds than the untreated control. The dehydrogenase activity was significantly higher in the treated seeds than the untreated control. Therefore, pre-storage dry treatments in high-medium vigour rice seeds with aspirin and neem leaf powder employing system of rice intensification technology (SRI) may be suggested to the rice growers for improved storability and field performance and productivity.