Seed invigouration with botanicals to improve physiological performance of soybean (Glycine max (L.) merrill) seeds

A laboratory experiment was carried out in the Department of Seed Science and Technology Laboratory, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, from 2012–2013 to study the seed invigouration with different botanicals on the seed quality of soybean seeds. Botanical powders of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed, leafs of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), tea (Camellia sinensis) and noni (Morinda citrifolia) were ball milled for 1 and 2 h and treated to seeds @ 2, 3 and 4g kg⁻¹ with 30, 60 and 90 min. shaking. The treatments were subjected for seedling evaluation test. The results indicated that, among all the dry treatments, treatment with 1h ball milled fenugreek seed powder @ 2 g kg⁻¹ with 60 min. shaking showed higher seed quality parameters viz., germination % (95%), dry matter production (3.639 g) and vigour index (4569) than other treatments and control.