Natural Formulation and Chemical as Pre-Sowing Seed Treatment Affecting Seed Quality of Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L. Gaertn)

Eleusine coracana (L.) (Gaertn) or finger millet, also known as Ragi in Hindi language is a popular and traditional nutri-cereal / millet of the Seraj area in wet temperate of Himachal Pradesh.Locally called as koda or kodra, its cultivation is taken up in the kharif season by raising a nursery instead of direct field sowing in the wet temperate Himalayas.In this research study indigenous finger millet seeds were presoaked for 12 and 24 hours respectively in distilled water, different treatments of gibberellic acid (20 ppm, 40 ppm, 60 ppm, 80 ppm and 100 ppm) and one Beejamrit formulation (collected locally).Seed and seedling characters viz., field emergence percentage, seedling length, dry weight and seedling vigour index-length were recorded under the seed germination test.The treatment combinations 60 ppm GA 3 + 12 hrs soaking showed higher germination percentage (96.00%),seedling length (10.50 cm) and seedling vigour index.The treatment combination Beejamrit + 12 hrs soaking were at par with the best treatment combination.Seed germination promoting chemical GA 3 had significantly improved the initial growth of the seedling.The natural formulation Beejamrit was also equally good in boosting the seedling emergence as well as its physical characters.These treatment combinations can invigorate or enhance the seed quality thus boosting crop production of finger millet in the long run in the wet temperate high hills of Himalayas.