Effect of Seed Storage Duration and Methods on Growth and Yield of Basil Variety

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Wondogenet Agricultural Research Center to determine the effect of seed storage period and methods on the growth and yield of basil. Basil seeds stored in three storage methods (Plastic jar, Polypropylene, and Cotton bags) for six storage periods (initial period, one, three, six, nine, and twelve months) were used to evaluate the impact of the treatments on the yield and performance in the field. The field experiment was arranged by using RCBD design with three replications. The data were taken at the 90% physiological maturity stage. The results showed a significant difference between the treatments. The results indicated that the interaction effects of basil seed storage time and methods had a significant (P<0.05) effect on Primary Branch Number, Plant Height, Umbrella length, Dry, and Fresh biomass. The umbrella number of the storage methods had an accelerating trend with raising storage duration to 3 months storage, after that it shows a declining trend with raising storage time. The two storage methods plastic jar and bag maintained the seed in good condition for 3 months further, storage of the seed leads to the shortest plant and umbrella length. The highest dry biomass was recorded at 3 months stored seed in a plastic bag which was not significantly different from 3 months stored seed in a plastic jar. Basil dry biomass for the jar stored seed ranged from 0.85 to 3.33, 0.91 to 3.42 ton/ha for plastic bag whereas for the cotton bag, it ranged from 0.6 to 2.26 ton/ha. In general, seeds stored for three months had shown better growth and yield.