Effect of Seed Coating with Polymers on Seed Vigour and Seedling Stand in Direct Seeded Rice

These experiments were conducted to investigate water uptake, electrical conductivity, germination percentage, seedling growth, and seedling establishment rate in direct seeding cultivation of rice. The rice seeds of six japonica type varieties were coated with 12 kinds of polymers in a standard concentration of 0.2% using seed coating machine. The water absorption of the polymer-coated seeds under saturation conditions was not different among varieties, and was the highest in kulcel, maltrin, and waterlock on the polymer-coated seeds. The electrical conductivity with waterlock (55.0 $\mu scm^{-1}g^{-1}$) was higher than the control plot (45.6 $\mu scm^{-1}g^{-1}$) and other treatments. The germination of the polymer-coated seeds was 95.9% at control plot, 92.7% at low temperature and 35.7% at high temperature. The total dry weight of seed decreased in the order of low temperature, control plot, and high temperature, and was effective in pvp (polyvinyl pyrrolidone), opadry, and sacrust. The seedling establishment rate in direct seeding cultivation ranged from 74.9 to 81.0% in flooded paddy surface, and ranged from 64.7 to 76.6% in dry paddy. In both cases, it decreased in the order of early, medium and medium-late varieties, but was enhanced in daran 8600, sepirect, and sacrust. According to this study the recommended polymers for direct seeding cultivation of rice are daran 8600, sepirect, and sacrust.