Field Counts in Seed Technology
Field Counts in Seed Technology
It is a representative sample of plants taken at random from a seed plot for recording the observation on off types, pollen shedders, diseased plants, insprable other crop plants. As per provision of seed certification it is necessary to examine each and every plant in the seed plot for contaminant. It is however impracticable to do so. During each field inspection field counts are taken randomly covering of the seed plot and observations are made on the plants from each selected field counts.
The number of counts taken varies according to the area of the seed plot. Minimum five counts are required to be taken for seed plots having a 2.0 ha and one additional count is to be taken for every additional area of two hectare or part thereof.
Area of Seed Field (ha) | No of Counts to be taken |
1. upto 2 | 5 |
2.2 to 4 | 6 |
3.4 to 6 | 7 |
4.6 to 8 | 8 |
5.8 to 10 | 9 |
6.10 to 12 | 10 |
Number of plants/heads or tillers to be included in one count depends upon the type of crop involved.
Crops | Number of Plants /heads per Count |
1. Castor , Cotton, Groundnut, Maize, Tur, Sunflower, Bulb Crops, Tuber Crops, Broad Spaced Vegetables. | 100 Plants |
2. Beans , Pulses , seasamum , mustard, | 500 Plants |
3. Lucerne , Berseem, Jute, Soybean | 1000 Plants |
4. Cereals other than Maize | 1000 Heads |
Procedure for Taking Field Count:
A) For Thickly Sown Row Crops:
E.g Wheat, Jawar, Soybean.
1) Enter the seed plot from a randomly selected site.
2) Count the number of plants or heads in a row in one step.
3) Count number of plants or heads per step at randomly selected five locations ad work out the average number of plants/ heads per step.
4) Calculate the number of steps required to complete a count.
5) Select at random any row and start from any point in that row. Take required number of steps in that row to complete one count or take few steps in that row to inspect few heads/plants say 1/10th of count, then cross over 2 or 3 rows and take few steps in next row for inspecting another few plants or heads. Repeat this till required number of plants/ heads of one count are inspected.
6) Repeat this till required number of counts are taken.
7) Record number of contaminats observed in each count in the inspection report.
B) For Broadly Spaced Crops E. g Chillies, Cotton, Castor, Maize
1) Enter the seed plot from a randomly selected site.
2) Inspect 100 plants in any row or inspect half the plants of one count in one row and remaining half in 2 nd or 3 rd row.
3) Move across the seed field covering all portions and take requisite number of counts on the basis of area of the seed plot.
4) Record the number of contaminant observed in each count in the inspection report.
C) For Female and Male Rows in Seed Plots of Hybrid Jawar and Hybrid Bajara:
a) Size of one count is 1000, calculate the number of steps required to inspect 1000 heads.
b) Start inspection the heads from any point in any row and inspect 100-200 heads in that row. Shift over to 3 rd or 5 th row and again inspect 100-200 heads. In this way cover part of seed plot for one count.
c) Repeat this procedure for taking required No of counts separately for female and male rows.
d) Count contaminants separately for male and female rows for each count and record them in inspection report.
For Female Rows:
Off types , pollen shedders, diseased plants for male rows offtypes, diseased plants.