In selecting a planting material, what are the characteristics that should be considered? Explain.
Answers
Answer:
How cheap can I get without compromising quality. I don’t need real expensive potting soil with fertilizer, I don’t WANT the real expensive potting soil with FERTILIZER! I should determine the fertilizer to use and how much. So I buy potting soil at dollar stores. I like the size of the bags too, more manageable. Pots are a little harder, I buy better ones as they last a long time and will pay for themselves over time. I have some I paid $36 for 20 years ago that are still good. As for seed starting, I’ve tried all kinds of different ways to do that and it depends on the seed. I start fine seed in little 6″ square paint trays with holes drilled in bottom. I start other in 1″ cell packs and still others in 1 1/2″ cell packs. In all seriousness, the paint trays would be a good way to go with everything and then transplant into 1 1/2″ cell packs and some into 3 1/2″ pots. The consideration is space. I have 80 zinnias and 60 marigolds and I don’t have the space for all those 3 1/2″ pots so they go into 1 1/2″ cell packs. I just don’t grow for myself, btw. I use seed starting soil for starting the seeds and use a better quality for that.
answer:
Higher genetically purity:
Breeder /Nucleus - 100%
Foundation seed - 99.5%
Certified seed - 99.0%
Higher physical purity for certification
Maize , Bhendi - 99%
All crops ( most) - 98%
Carrot - 95%
Sesame, soybean & jute - 97 %
Ground nut - 96 %
Possession of good shape, size, colour, etc., according to specifications of variety
Higher physical soundness and weight
Higher germination ( 90 to 35 % depending on the crop)
Higher physiological vigour and stamina
Higher storage capacity
Free from other crop seeds ( Expressed in number /kg) - Other crop seeds are the plants of cultivated crops found in the seed field and whose seed are so similar to crop seed that is difficult to separate them economically by mechanical means. Eg. Mixtures of Wheat, oats seeds in barley.
It should be free from objectionable weed seeds -These are plants of weed species which are harmful in one or more of the following ways.
The size and shape of their seeds are so similar to that of the crop seed that is difficult to remove their seed economically by mechanical means.
Their growth habit is detrimental to the growing seed crop due to competing effect.
Their plant parts are poisonous or injurious to human and animal beings
They serve as alternate hosts for crop pests and diseases.
It should be free from designated diseases - It refers to the diseases specified for the certification of seeds and for which certification standards are to be met with . These diseases would cause contamination, when they are present in the seed field or with in the specified isolation distance ( eg. loose smut of wheat). For this the the certification distance has been prescribed as 180 meters.