Introduction to seed management

Seed is a living product that must be grown, harvested and processed correctly to maximize its viability and subsequent crop productivity. For the yield potential of any rice variety to be realized, good quality seed must be sown. Good quality seed can increase yields by 5-20%. The extent of this increase is directly proportional to the quality of seed that is being sown. Seed quality can be considered as the summation of all factors that contribute to seed performance.

High quality seed enables farmers to attain crops, which have:

• the most economical planting rate
• a higher percentage of seeds
• emerging in the field
• a minimum of replanting
• a vigorous seedling establishment
• a more uniform plant stand
• faster growth rate, and
• greater resistance to stress and diseases and
• uniformity in ripening.

This manual deals with the practical field aspects of managing good and certified seed. For more detail on laboratory seed health testing, we recommend the publication: Mew, T.W. and Misra, J.K. 1994. A manual of rice seed health testing. International Rice research Institute. Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines. P.O. Box 933, 1099 Manila, Philippines.