Seed Storage – Purpose and Stages

Seed Storage – Purpose and Stages

Purpose of Seed Storage:

The purpose of seed storage is to maintain the seed in good physical and physiological condition from the time they are harvested until the time they are planted.

Stages of Seed Storage:

The seeds are considered to be in storage from the moment they reach physiological maturity until they germinate, or until they are thrown away because they are dead or otherwise worthless. The entire storage period can be conveniently divided into following stages.

1. Storage on plants (Physiologically maturity until harvest)
2. Harvest, until processed and stored in a warehouse.
3. In storages (Warehouses).
4. In transit ( rail wagons , trucks, carts, railway sheds , etc)
5. In retail stores.
6. On the user’s farm.

The seed quality, i.e germination and vigour, can be considerably affected at any of the stages mentioned above , unless sound principles involved in seed storage are practised and the seeds properly handled.