INFLUENCE OF SYNTHETIC ZEOLITE APPLICATION ON SEED DEVELOPMENT PROFILE OF SOYBEAN GROWN ON ALLOPHANIC SOIL

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to characterize the pattern of seed development in precociously mature soybean seeds during its progression from germination to seedling growth and maturation as affected by synthetic zeolite application and allophanic soil. Changes in seed quality i.e. viability and germination were monitored from seed initiation to physiological maturity (Growth Stage R5 toR7) of soybean under different zeolite level and allophanic soil during 2007. A pot experiment was conducted to study the influence of zeolite nutrition and allophanic soil on seed developmental traits of one determinate (Enrei, [MG] 1V) and indeterminate cultivar (Harosoy [MG] 11) of soybean cultivar. Seeds were harvested at 12 days interval from 60 to 120 days after anthesis (DAA) from zeolite and allophanic soil treatments. Enrei cultivar planted on KyP and KnP allophanic soil and treated with 20 and 40 (g) zeolite gave maximum fresh, dry seed weight and germination as compared to Harosoy. A decrease in fresh and dry seed weight, and germination were observed with zero (g) zeolite application to paddy soil. Moisture content seed-1 was maximum (100%) at DAA. Moisture content declined for the whole seed, from above 75 and 65% at 95 DAA to 65 and 50% at 120 DAA in both cultivars. Decrease in seed moisture content during development was accompanied by increase in desiccation tolerance and germination, reaching maximum at physiological maturity in both cultivars. Fresh and dry seed germination increased linearly in both varieties. Mean rate of change in fresh seed weight, moisture content and germination was more pronounced in Enrei than Harosoy. Immature seeds in both cultivars during early developmental stage did not germinate in all treatments of zeolite and allophanic soil.