The Effect of Some Packaging Materials on Seed Viability of Arachis hypogaea L (Groundnut)

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of various packaging materia

ls on the seed viability of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), SAMNUT 24 variety. Conducted at the Department of Biological Science laboratory, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, the experiment employed a complete randomized design with five packaging materials:namel; polythene bag, paper bag, cloth bag, aluminum foil, and jute bag. Each material contained 1 kg of seeds, stored for six months. Post-storage, a germination test was performed using 20 seeds from each packaging type, with parameters including germination percentage, germination index, germination rate index, and vigor index assessed after seven days. Results indicated that packaging materials significantly affected seed quality, with aluminum foil demonstrating the highest germination percentage (98.34%) and vigor index (3423.06), followed closely by polythene bags. In contrast, cloth bags yielded the lowest values for both germination percentage (67.45%) and vigor index (987.45). These findings align with existing literature suggesting that effective packaging is crucial for preserving seed viability by protecting against environmental factors. The study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate packaging materials to enhance seed quality and agricultural productivity, with aluminum foil and polythene bags as the most effective in groundnut seed storage.