Evaluation of Different Seed Packaging Materials for Quality of Rice Seed Stored for Different Periods of Time in Ethiopia

One of the most critical processes for maintaining seed quality is the post-harvest process at the storage stage. The type of packaging material and the storage environment will have an impact on shelf life of rice seed. One type of packaging has distinct properties that distinguish it from others. It is well investigated that hermetic bags are capable of rice weevil control with the principle of oxygen depletion. However, it needs further research to investigate the impact of locally available packaging materials, newly produced polypropylene bags and hermetic bags on rice seed quality. Accordingly, this study was conducted to evaluate the variation in rice seed quality as a function of interaction effects of storage duration and package type through the characterization of rice seed quality parameters. A rice variety ‘Ediget’ was examined in five packaging materials, viz., Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bag, super grain bag, jute bag, polypropylene bag, and fertilizer bag. Rice seeds were stored at an average temperature of 21.89 °C and relative humidity of 54.41% for a period of 18 months. Standard methods of evaluating seed quality applicable to rice were used. Seed quality data were collected every 6th month. Quality parameters such as moisture content, thousand seed weight, standard germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, and vigor indices were evaluated under packaging types and storage durations. The seed germination percentage was found to be above the recommended level of standard germination for rice seed, whereas there was a reduction in germination and seedling vigor as the storage period advanced. In all packaging types, A significant difference was observed during the 6-month, 12-month and 18-month seed tests among packaging materials. It was found that rice seed of Ediget variety packaged in PICS bag, and Grain-pro Super bag showed high germination, seedling length, seedling dry weight, and vigor indices and revealed significant differences ( P