The behavior of hydrothermally synthesized hematite nanorods prepared on spin coated seed layers

Herein we report on the effect of varied spin-coated seed layer concentrations of Iron (III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3.6H2O) on the photoelectrochemical performance of hydrothermally synthesized hematite nanorods. The seed layers were prepared from 0.05, 0.07, 0.09, 0.11, and 0.13 M concentrations of FeCl3.6H2O. The nanorods were vertically aligned with slight inclinations over the seed layers with the two lowest molar concentrations (0.05 and 0.07 M) of FeCl3.6H2O. A further increase in seed layer concentrations transformed the nanorods as they grew over others and agglomerated into clusters. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy demonstrated uniform hematite crystalline peaks for all the samples. All samples absorbed highly in the visible region within an onset absorption edge wavelength ranging from 624 to 675 nm. Overall, the nanorods synthesized over the lowest seed layer concentration of 0.05 M of FeCl3.6H2O exhibited the highest photocurrent density of 0.077 mA/cm2 at 1.5 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode. The results obtained provide important information about the structural, optical, and photoelectrochemical properties of hematite nanorods synthesized over varied seed layer concentrations. This is a key contribution in understanding and enhancing the hematite nanorods performance for photocatalytic applications.

Phytotoxicity of fungicide coated sugar beet seed depends on growth condition.

Fungicide-coated seed protects sugar beet plants from soilborne diseases, but seedlings coming from coated seeds often encounter phytotoxicity under field conditions. To understand the phytotoxic impact, fungicide-coated seed and the uncoated seed of two cultivars were sown with holes or no holes in plastic trays in greenhouse conditions. Our study demonstrated without fungicide coat on sugar beet seed and holes in plastic trays resulted in just above 90% germination. While fungicide-coated seed and no hole's underneath trays- showed the lowest germination (>20%). Fungicide-coated seed, having holes in plastic trays showed 90% germination. No fungicide coat on seed, having no hole's underneath trays showed 70% germination. We further estimated the percentage of stunted seedlings in both cultivars. Fungicide-coated seed with holes underneath plastic trays showed above 5% stunted seedlings while fungicide-coated seed, having no hole's underneath trays- showed the highest percentage of stunted seedlings (>10%) in both cultivars. In summary, our data demonstrated that the phytotoxicity of fungicide-coated sugar beet seed depends on growth conditions.

Investigation of the impact interaction of pelleted seeds with the soil environment

The issues of studying the impact interaction of seeds with the soil environment by the method of discrete elements are considered. The main parameters of the used virtual stand are described and a brief description of the interaction model is given. As a result of the study, the depth of penetration of the seed, its displacement in the horizontal plane and the greatest depth of the crater were obtained. Analysis of the data showed that on unbound and loosely bound soils, a penetration rate of 50 m/s is sufficient for almost 100% penetration into the surface layer without noticeable displacement of the pelleted seed. On medium cohesive soils at a speed of 50 m/s, stable seed penetration is not ensured. The probability of its release is about 10%. At speeds of 75 m/s, almost 100% penetration into the surface layer is provided without noticeable displacement of the coated seed. On cohesive soils at speeds of 25 m/s, the seed is always ejected from the crater over a considerable distance. At a speed of 50 m/s, the probability of seed ejection is reduced to 30% and at 75 m/s to 10%.

​Influence of Iron Coated Seeds on time of Sowing in Wet Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Background: Wet direct seeding technique in rice, which aims to realize labour saving in paddy rice cultivation, has continued to gain popularity in recent years. Because the work of raising and transplanting seedlings can be omitted, wet direct seeding can make an important contribution to labour saving. In wet DSR, iron coated seed that is, seed is coated with iron powder, which increases its weight so that seed settle easily in water and forms a tough coating that preventing birds from eating the seeds. Methods: Studies were conducted during the year 2018 and 2019 at the Department of Rice, TNAU, Coimbatore on influence of iron coated seeds and time of sowing in wet direct seeded rice. Experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. In main plot, different time of sowing at weekly interval viz., first, second, third and fourth week of August sowing, where as in sub-plot iron coated seeds broadcasting in 1-2 mm water level condition; iron coated seeds broadcasting in wet condition; uncoated seeds broadcasting in 1-2 mm water level condition; uncoated seeds broadcasting in wet condition and normal method of transplanting. Result: The results indicated that iron coated seeds of variety Swarna, broadcasting in 1-2 mm water level condition during the first fortnight of August sowing resulted higher grain yield (5653 kg/ha) when compared delayed sowing. The Fe coating significantly increased grain yield over non-coating. Iron coated seeds recorded lesser occurrence of pest and disese incidence when compared to un-coated seeds.

Effect of Seed Coating and PEG-Induced Drought on the Germination Capacity of Five Clover Crops

The effect of coating the seed of clover crops by water absorbing seed process (WASP) technology pelletization on its germination capacity was studied in conditions of diverse drought intensities simulated by different concentrations of polyethylenglycol (PEG) 8000 solution. Drought resistance was monitored in the seed of five fodder clover species: Anthyllis vulneraria L., Medicago lupulina L., Trifolium repens L., Melilotus albus Medik. and Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. In the seed of given plant species, germination capacity was determined along with the share of dead and hard seeds. Although the coating significantly (p < 0.05) affected the drought resistance of seeds, the germination capacity increased only in conditions of milder drought (simulation with PEG: 0.1–0.3 mol). With the increasing intensity of drought induced by higher PEG concentrations (0.4–0.7 mol) the number of germinable seeds demonstrably decreased and the number of dead seeds increased in the coated seed as compared with the uncoated seed. The coated seed can be appropriate for use in M. lupulina, M. albus and T. repens, while the uncoated seed can be used in A. vulneraria and O. viciifolia.

Result of physical and mechanical properties of coated seed

Coated seeds will be used to protect crops from various pests and diseases, and increase the intensity of growth and germination. To gaining the size and weight of seeds is also useful to equalize the distance between crops by its agro-technical requirement at the sowing time. Many methods can be used for the seed coating process, but the general principles are same. One or more different substances can be applied to seed surface with numerous layers. Fodders, protectors and fillers can be included for those substances, which are not only used to sizing of the seeds, but also used for making seeds with convenient shape. We determined the density of coated seeds was 660 kg / m3, the coefficient of external friction was 0.47, the coefficient of internal friction was 0.56, and the average value of coating load was 33N, which meets the agro-technical requirements for sowing. Comparative number of coated rapeseed (by seed meter) to number of non-coated rapeseed for falling at one square meter were decreased by 1.4-3.6 times. It shows the problem of 2.1-2.6 times more seeds were falling than the basic norm when rapeseed is sown has been solved, and due to the increase of seed weight the seeds evenly falling through the seed tube and sitting evenly at the bottom of the drill-harrow has been improved. Рапсийн бүрсэн үрийн технологийн ба агро техникийн үзүүлэлтүүдийг судалсан дүн Тус өгүүлэлд бүрсэн үрийн физик механик шинж болон агро техникийн шаардлагыг хэрхэн хангаж байгааг туршилтаар тодорхойлсон үр дүнг харууллаа. Туршилтын үр дүнд бүрсэн үрийн эзлэхүүн жин 660 кг/м3, бяцралын хүч нь 33Н, катушкан үрлэх аппаратаар үрлэж бүрсэн рапсын үрийг бүрээгүй үртэй харьцуулахад 1м.кв-т талбайд унах үрийн тоог 1.4-3.6 дахин багасгаж байна. Түлхүүр үг: үрэлтийн илтгэлцүүр, эзлэхүүн жин, нягт, бяцрал, жин

Biocontrol strategies to reduce the impact of Septoria tritici blotch in wheat

Trichoderma strains are used as biofungicides for some plant diseases. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of Trichoderma harzianum isolates, applied alone and in combination with fungicides, to control Zymoseptoria tritici, the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch of wheat, and their impact on wheat yield and its components. To this end, field experiments were performed in 2010 and 2011 and 10 different treatments were applied. The disease severity was assessed by visual estimation of the leaf area affected by Z. tritici at the first node, anthesis and early dough growth stages. The best results for reducing the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) were “coated seed only with T. harzianum” and “coated seed plus two foliar application of T. harzianum”. Regarding the increase in yield gain and the improvement of yield components, the fungicide treatment applied at seedling, and tillering in 2011 provided significant increase. Respect the treatments with the application of T. harzianum the best was only one application as coated seed of the biocontroler alone showing yield responses similar to the ones obtained with the fungicide treatments. We recommended the coated seed alone because the protective effect lasts until the early dough stage of ripening. This application produced a comparable yield to that obtained with three applications of T. harzianum at different phenological stages of wheat with as well as with more than one application of commercial fungicide. We found a strong relationship between the number of kernels per spike and the wheat yield in 2011 as a consequence of the best environmental conditions for the disease’s occurrence. Contrary, it was shown a non-significant association between thousand kernel weight (TKW) and the wheat yield.

Seed Coating with Organomineral Fertilizer, an Alternative Method to Improve the Efficiency of Farming

Seed and fertilizer are two important farming inputs, which are commonly available and used separately. Combining both materials into a unit of fertilizer-coated seed may improve farming efficiency. However, the appropriate seed coating method must be found out, and this research was the first effort of finding the method. A glasshouse experiment was carried out to identify the growth and yield of the coated seeds of rice and groundnut with organomineral fertilizer in three different sizes, i.e., small (SS), medium (MS), and big sizes (BS). Four sets of experiments were prepared, two of those were for testing two varieties of rice and the others were for testing two varieties of groundnut. Each experiment was laid out in a complete randomized design; the treatment was the size of coated seeds (SS, MS, BS, and a control - uncoated seeds) in triplicates. Results reveal that the seed coating delayed the germination of rice seeds for 2 – 3 days and groundnut seeds for 7 – 16 days, suppressed the growth and yield of rice but improved the growth and yield of groundnut. The highest yield of groundnut was the grown groundnut from the small and medium sizes of coated seeds (weight ratios of 1:4 and 1:9). The reduces of growth and yield of rice were most probably due to the direct contact of the high concentration of nutrients, especially nitrogen, with the seeds. In conclusion, the seed coating with organomineral fertilizer was a potentially developed method to improve farming efficiency. Further efforts were needed to fix the composition of organomineral fertilizer, especially the type N substances used and the steps of applying the materials onto the seeds.