Abstract

                                The experiment was conducted at Department of Seed Science andTechnology, Coimbatore during 2019-20 to standardize the pellet size formechanized sowing in foxtail millet. The seeds of foxtail millet (Setariaitalica) were circumscribed by small amount of filler materials and adhesiveto produce a globular unit of size and also supply nutrient to the plant.Pellet size in terms of seed size has been standardized by using TNAUpelleting powder as filler material and gum acacia as adhesive to suite therequirement of air assisted seed drill for precision sowing with minimumseed rate. Results showed that the pellet size of 3.1 mm was found to beoptimum for mechanized sowing with seed drill and 11 layers of coating withfiller material increases the seed size from 0.8 to 3.1mm. The seeds coatedto 11 layers have recorded maximum germination (87%), root length(12.7cm), shoot length (6.3 cm),vigour index (1656) with high speed of germination(6.5 ) at laboratory condition.

Key words : Small millets; Seed pelleting; Pellet size; Mechanical sowing; Seed quality