{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Before Monsoon Sowing Begins, KVK Scientist Explains How Farmers Can Test Their Own Seeds at Home",
  "summary": "With soybean seeds scarce and expensive in Madhya Pradesh this kharif season, farmers can test germination at home using a simple wet jute sack method before sowing begins. According to Dr. K.S. Yadav of the Sagar Krishi Vigyan Kendra, a germination count above 70 in a test sample confirms the seed is ready for the field.",
  "content": "A Soybean Seed Shortage Is Creating a Real Risk for Farmers This Kharif Season\nMonsoon rains are nearly at the doorstep of Madhya Pradesh. The moment the first good shower soaks the soil three to four inches deep, farmers across the state will begin their kharif sowing. But this season comes loaded with a particular worry: soybean seeds are in critically short supply, and whatever is available in the market is being sold at very high prices. Facing this shortage, many farmers are planning to sow using seed they have stored at home from the previous year's harvest. The risk here is serious. If those home-stored seeds carry poor germination, the entire sowing effort fails. Farmers are then forced to source fresh seed and fertilizer all over again for a second sowing, which effectively doubles their input costs and causes significant financial stress.\n\nThe Window Before Monsoon Is the Right Time to Test Your Seeds\nDr. K.S. Yadav, a scientist at the Sagar Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Sagar, says that the days remaining before the monsoon arrives are the best opportunity to verify seed quality. His advice covers all the major kharif crops: soybean, urad, maize, moong, sesame, paddy and arhar. Whatever crop a farmer intends to sow, the first step is to gather the seed and assess it. Certified seeds and foundation seeds supplied through agricultural institutions are already tested and carry a quality guarantee. It is the seeds stored at home that require extra care this season, particularly given how tight the soybean seed supply has become.\n\nThe Wet Jute Sack Test: A Simple Method Anyone Can Do at Home\nFor farmers who want to check their seeds without travelling to the field, Dr. Yadav recommends a method that requires nothing more than a jute sack and water. Soak the sack thoroughly until it is fully damp. From the seed stock you plan to sow, pick up a random fistful of seeds, count them carefully and place them inside the wet sack. After a few days, count how many of those seeds have sprouted. The germination ratio you see in that sample is a reliable indicator of what the entire seed lot will do once it goes into the ground.\n\nThe 500-Seed Row Test for the Field\nFarmers who prefer to run their germination test directly in the field also have a proven method available. Sort through your seed stock, select good-quality grains and set aside 500 of them. Sow these in five rows of 100 seeds each and wait for them to germinate. The count of sprouted plants gives you a precise germination percentage that can then guide your planning for the main sowing operation.\n\nUsing the Test Results to Set the Right Seed Rate\nAccording to Dr. Yadav, if more than 70 seeds out of your test sample germinate, your seed is of high quality and can be used with confidence. The recommended sowing rate for good seed is 75 to 80 kg per hectare, which works out to 35 kg per acre. If the test shows germination at only 60 or 65 seeds, the seed is not wasted. The correct response is to increase the quantity sown by 20 to 25 percent relative to the standard rate. That adjustment compensates for the lower germination rate and ensures adequate plant density in the field. \n\nSeed Treatment Before Sowing Is Non-Negotiable\nDr. Yadav also makes clear that testing germination is only part of the preparation. Before sowing starts, every batch of seed must go through seed treatment. This step shields the crop from seed-borne diseases and from pathogens lurking in the soil, and it also promotes stronger and more uniform germination across the entire field.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: Farmers preparing to sow soybean or any other kharif crop can protect themselves from the cost of failed germination and re-sowing by running this simple test before the first seed goes into the ground.\n• In Madhya Pradesh: With soybean seeds scarce and costly this season, testing home-stored seeds gives Madhya Pradesh farmers a way to use last year's grain with confidence and avoid paying inflated market prices for replacement seed.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. How do you test seed germination at home?\nSoak a jute sack in water, place a counted random sample of seeds inside it, and check after a few days to see how many have sprouted.\n\n2. What germination count indicates that a seed is good quality?\nAccording to Dr. K.S. Yadav, if more than 70 seeds out of the test sample germinate, the seed is considered to be of good quality.\n\n3. What should a farmer do if germination is only 60 or 65?\nIn that case, increase the quantity sown by 20 to 25 percent relative to the standard rate to compensate for the lower germination and achieve adequate plant density.\n\n4. How much soybean seed is needed per acre for sowing?\nFor good-quality seed, the recommended rate is 35 kg per acre, which equals 75 to 80 kg per hectare.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/madhya-pradesh/buvai-se-pahale-ghara-para-parakhen-apana-bija-sagara-kvk-ke-vaijnanika-ne-batay-1613",
  "category": "Madhya Pradesh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-18",
  "tags": [
    "seed germination test",
    "soybean seed",
    "kharif sowing",
    "Madhya Pradesh farmers",
    "seed treatment",
    "Sagar Krishi Vigyan Kendra",
    "monsoon farming",
    "home seed testing"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}