STORAGE GODOWN AND THEIR MAINTENANCE
Seeds undergo deterioration due to aging in storage. This is accelerated by climatic factors and external biotic factors like insects and pathogen. In addition to seed borne pathogen and storage insects, seeds are damaged by birds and rats for their feed. Clean and hygienic godowns protect the seed from external insects and preserve the seed. Hence care should be taken in construction of godown. The points to be noted are as follows.
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Seed godown should be in a place where transport facilities are easily available.
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Seed godowns should not be constructed in areas near seashore. Since the high RH of atmospheric air accelerate the deterioration of seed.
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Seed godown should not be constructed in low lying water stagnating areas.
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Seed godown should be constructed in places where atmospheric RH is low, free circulation of air is possible, sunlight is adequate and elevated in nature.
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The ventilators should be at bottom for free air circulation.
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Ground moisture should not reach the floor.
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Should be rat proof with wire mesh
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Should not be near industries as smoke is injurious
Seed storage godown
Maintenance of seed in godown following points are to be considered.
- Godown should be clean and dry
- Seed bags should not be stacked directly on floor. Should be stacked on wooden ballets.
- The height of the stack should not be more than 6-8 bags.
- Different seed lot should be kept separately.
- Godown should be sprayed periodically once in a week or fortnightly with Malathion 50 EC (1 : 300 Chemical : Water) @ 5 lit. sq. m-1 or 0.25% Nuvan @ 1 lit. 100 m3-1.
- Altering the chemicals at weekly intervals will give better control.
- Seed lots can be fumigated with Aluminium phophide @ 3 gm/cu.m in air tight condition for 7 days. This can be done as propylatic measure and on minimum infestation by insects.
- Seed lots should be periodically (once in month) tested for seed quality.
- Based on seed testing result, seeds can be dried under sun for the removal of moisture. It reduces insect and pathogen infestation.
- New seed lots should be kept away from old seed lots to avoid secondary infestation of insects.
- Seeds should be treated with combination of fungicide and insecticide (eg.) Thiram @ 2 g kg-1 + carbaryl @ 200 mg kg-1.
- Frequent supervision of each and every lot is must.
- Seed bag should be restacked once in 3 months for free aeration.
- Instead of gunny bags low cost interwoven polythene bags should be used to prolong the life of seed.
- Pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, rejects should not be stored with seed.
- Each lot should be labeled accurately and registers for stocks should be maintained.
- Per acre or per hectare packing (small) is preferable for easy handling and effective supervision.
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