A Review on Seed Treatments Mentioned in Vṛkṣāyurveda.

Authors

  • P R Sreelakshmi P G Scholar, Dept. of Dravyaguna Vijnana, VPSV AVC, Kottakkal, Kerala Author
  • N Manoj Kumar Professor & H.O.D Dept. of Dravyaguna Vijnana, VPSV AVC, Kottakkal, Kerala Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/IRJAY.2023.6712

Keywords:

Vṛkṣāyurveda, seed treatments, Organic agriculture

Abstract

Nowadays various conventional methods of seed treatments are  available for protecting the seeds from several seed borne or soil-borne  pathogenic organisms and also for improving germination. Though  many of them are detrimental to the health of humans and environment.  Organic agriculture is an alternative approach for environmental  supportive safe and quality production of plants. Here comes the  importance of Vṛkṣāyurveda – an ancient science of Arbori – horticulture, is a branch of Ayurveda specifically meant for the health,  healing and productivity of plants. Protocols and methods of  Vṛkṣāyurveda are promising in the field of organic agriculture. The  various seed treatments have been carefully designed in Vṛkṣāyurveda to obtain good quality of seedlings. Seeds which are treated and  preserved in this manner are excellent for sowing and will sprout  undoubtedly. Viḍaṅga (Embelia ribes Burm.), Sarṣapa (Brassica juncea L. Czern.), Gomaya (Cow dung), Kṣoudra (Honey), Bṛhati (Solanum  anguivi Lam.), Ghṛta (Ghee), kṣīra (Milk), Tila (Sesamum indicum L.),  Kamala nāla (stalk of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) are extensively used  in various seed treatments. These are applied on the seeds in the form of  soaking, coating, fumigation etc. Kṛmihara (antimicrobial), Kleda  viśoṣaka (drying up the moisture and thus increasing shelf life) and  Poṣaka (fortification of seeds) properties of these drugs might act here. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Benefits or Advantages of seed treatment, Available from; http://ecourseonline.iasri.res.in (11/05/2023) 2. Sharma R.K, Caraka Samhita of Agnivesa (ISBN : 978- 81-7080-012-9), (Sans/ Eng), Varanasi, Choukamba press;2011;pp. 452.

Jugunu K, Vṛkṣāyurveda of Surapāla (ISBN:81-7080- 145-1), (sans/Hin) , 1st ed, Bhāratīya parampara aur Vṛkṣāyurveda, Chaukhambha Sanskrit Series office , Varanasi, 2004;pp.11-38.

Nalini S, Surapala’s Vrikshayurveda (The science of plant life by Surapala). Agri-History Bulletin No.1 . Asian Agri History Foundation, Secunderabad,1996;pp.46. 5. Iyer N.C, The Brhat samhita of Varaha Mihira (I.S.B.N 81-7030-094-0), 2nd ed, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, 1987;pp.270-271.

in milk, rubbing seeds with cow dung, applying some herbal medicines to the seeds etc. We can categorize these treatments under the following three headings – kṛmihara (antimicrobial), kleda viśoṣaka (drying up the moisture and thus increasing shelf life) and Poṣaka (fortification of seeds). Vṛkṣāyurveda is an area that still needs a lot of research and it is destined to play a major role in exciting, motivating and educating researchers and farmers from all over the world. Vṛkṣāyurveda methods of cultivation increases soil fertility and soil health and it helps in the production of safe and quality agricultural products. It also enhances the growth of microbial flora in the soil. The role of Vṛkṣāyurveda is crucial in enabling transition from chemical agents based agriculture to organic agriculture. This will pave the way for the agricultural revolution itself where agriculture will be ecofriendly.

Chandini, Research Trends in Environmental Sciences (ISBN:978-93-5335-062-8), 2nd ed, chapter 5, Feb 2019, pp 69-86.

Nene Y.L, Kunapajala–a liquid organic manure of antiquity. Asian Agri-History. 2006;10(4):315-21. 8. Thanuja PC. Enhancement of seed germination rate and seedling vigour index in red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus (Linn. F.)): An endangered tree medicinal plant through different pre-sowing seed treatments. Red. 2011:3. 9. Nautiyal C.S., Reduced cell wall degradation plays a role in cow dung-mediated management of wilt complex disease of chickpea. Biol. Fertil. Soils. 2013.49 (7), 881– 89.

Swain MR, Ray RC, Nautiyal CS. Biocontrol efficacy of Bacillus subtilis strains isolated from cow dung against postharvest yam (Dioscorea rotundata L.) pathogens. Curr Microbiol. 2008 Nov; 57(5):407-11.

Sharma PV, Kaiyyadeva.Mutravarga. editors. Kaiyyadeva Nighantu. Varanasi :Chaukambha orientalia; 1979.p.400.

Factors influencing seed storage., Available from; https:agritech.tnau.ac.in (13/05/2023)

Zaller J.G., et al. Pesticide seed dressings can affect the activity of various soil organisms and reduce decomposition of plant material. BMC Ecol 2016 Aug;16,37

Golob P, Current status and future perspectives for inert dusts for control of stored product insects. J Stored Prod Res (1997) 33: 69-79.

Apuuli JKK, Villet MH (1996) The use of wood ash for the protection of stored cowpea seed (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) against Bruchidae (Coleoptera). Afr Entomol 4: 97-99.

Oguntade TO, Adekunle AA (2010) Preservation of seeds against fungi using wood-ash of some tropical forest trees in Nigeria. Afr J Microbiol Res 4: 279-288. 17. Dilipkumar Pal, Chandan Kumar Sahu and Arindam Haldar Bhasma : The ancient Indian nanomedicine J Adv Pharm Technol Res.2014 Jan-Mar; 5(1): 4-12. 18. Chunekar K.C Bhavmishra, Bhavprakash Nighantu. commentary Dhanya Varga. 9/63-65. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy; 2020, p-639. 19. Scott E. Sattler et al., Vitamin E is essential for seed longevity and for preventing lipid peroxidation during germination, The Plant Cell,2004 Jun; 16(6):1419-1432. 20. Chunekar K.C, Bhavmishra, Bhavprakash Nighantu. commentary Guduchyadi varga. 3/36-37. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy; 2020, p-275. 21. Chunekar K.C, Bhavmishra, Bhavprakash Nighantu. commentary Haritakyadi varga. 1/112. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy; 2020, p-50. 22. Brahmeshwari G, Kumaraswamy G. Anti bacterial activity of benzoxadiazines derived from Embelin. IJPBS. 2012;2(2):284-7.

Chunekar K.C, Bhavmishra, Bhavprakash Nighantu. commentary Puspa varga. 4/12-13. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy; 2020, p-469. 24. Shastri H, Vagbhata, Astangahrdaya. ed with Sarvangasundara of Arunadatta & Ayurvedarasayana of Hemadri. Sutrasthana. 10/6-9. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan; 2016, p-175.

Reddy K et al., Processing, Physical, and Functional properties of Lotus stem and Jamun seed Flours.2022 Nov;14(4):852-856.

Aralelimath GT, Comparative study on effects of Vrikshayurveda and modern techniques on germination of Bakuchi (Psoralea corylifolia L.) seeds. National Academy Science Letters. 2016 Aug;39(4):241-244.

Govindaraj M, Plant derived smoke stimulation for seed germination and enhancement of crop growth: A review. Agricultural Reviews. 2016 Jun 1;37(2). 28. Dhoopana - An Ayurvedic mode of disinfection. Available from; http:// CCRAS.nic.in (16/05/2023) 29. Rahman MS. Effect of Milk and Hydro-priming on Seed Germination Characteristics of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.). Turkish Journal of Agriculture Food Science and Technology. 2021 Feb 22;9(2):296-300. 30. Shastri H, Vagbhata, Astangahrdaya. ed with Sarvangasundara of Arunadatta & Ayurvedarasayana of Hemadri. ed. Sutrasthana. 10/6-9. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan; 2016, p-175

Dubrovsky, J.G. (1996) Seed hydration memory in Sonoran Desert cacti and its ecological implication. American Journal of Botany 83, 624–632. 32. Chunekar K.C, Bhavmishra, Bhavprakash Nighantu. commentary. edited Guduchyadi varga. 4/139-141. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy; 2020, p-350.

Downloads

Published

2023-07-31

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 7 (2023): International Research Journal of Ayurveda and Yoga (Jul) (2023)

Section

Review Article

How to Cite

Sreelakshmi, P. R., & Kumar, N. M. (2023). A Review on Seed Treatments Mentioned in Vṛkṣāyurveda. International Research Journal of Ayurveda & Yoga, 6(7), 78-86. https://doi.org/10.48165/IRJAY.2023.6712
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC