Chemical treatment and storage of sorghum seeds produced in different management zones

Abstract:

Precision Agriculture considers soil attributes and production aspects to define management zones. Although there is little information, it is likely that seeds produced in different management zones have different quality after chemical treatment and storage. The aim was to evaluate the physiological quality of sorghum seeds produced in different management zones, after chemical treatment and storage. The management zones were defined from interpolated maps of soil and vegetation attributes with the aid of the Smart Map - SMP plugin, in a Qgis environment. After harvest, the seeds were treated with Thiamethoxam, Imidacloprid + Thiodicarb, Fludioxonil + Metalaxyl-M and a control treatment (water). Then, they were stored for 0, 60 and 120 days. The seeds were evaluated for their quality through the following tests: moisture, germination, dry mass of seedlings, electrical conductivity, and accelerated aging. The design was completely randomized in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, with the management zones being analyzed independently. Sorghum seed treatments with insecticides cause greater phytotoxicity during storage in both management zones, unlike the fungicide treatment. Sorghum seeds produced in high-management zones have high physiological quality and less deterioration during storage. Sorghum seeds produced in low-management zones treated with insecticides, as the storage time increases, show lower vigor due to deterioration and phytotoxicity.

Index terms:
precision agriculture; seed treatment; Sorghum bicolor L.; toxicity