Seed Standards and Seed Testing Protocols for Forage Legume Seeds

Seed Standards and Seed Testing Protocols for Forage Legume Seeds

Seed is the basic agricultural input and its quality is extremely important. In the absence of seeds of assured quality, the expenditure of the farmers on the other inputs may become of little use. It was in this context, seed legislation is in force in majority of the crops cultivated across the country to ensure the availability of high quality seeds to the farmers. The seed quality parameters (known as Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards, IMSCS) of a notified variety of various crops (viz., forages, cereals, millets, pulses etc.) have been published through Gazette notifications by the Government of India from time to time. However, in majority of forage crops seed standards have not been formulated and the quality of seed made available to the farmers cannot be regulated as envisaged under seeds act. Therefore, an attempt has been made to develop seed standards and seed testing protocols in three important forage range legumes (Centrosema pubescens, Desmanthus virgatus and Macroptilium atropurpureum cultivated by the farmers across the country.