Using rice husk ash for seed germination

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 29

A progressive farmer in the Bhorsi Rajputan village, around 30 kilometres from the city, has used rice husk ash (RHA) in better germination of seeds. Young Gurpreet Singh claimed that he has been using RHA for past several years.

Gurpreet and his brother runs Gobindpura nursing farm - a hybrid vegetable nursery and provide vegetable seedlings to other states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

He told that due to heaviness, the soil has the tendency to block germination of the seeds thereby creating hindrance in their growth. Rice husk ash, which is easily available, proved beneficial as it is light weight and helps in maintaining proper temperature required for good germination, he said. “After sowing the seeds, we sprinkle RHA on the fields. It protects seeds from damage due to fungus in wet soil,” he said.

Agriculture Development Officer Gurdeep Singh said, “Using rice husk ash has its own advantage. While preparing paddy seedlings RHA can be very beneficial. It provides soft medium for germination and sprouting of seeds.

Different vegetable nursery farmers use different methods for germination of seedlings. This holds true for vegetable seedlings also, said GS Chhina, deputy director, department of horticulture.