Effect of sources and storage conditions on quality of sorghum seeds

Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2014; 13 (1) : 1-11A study was conducted in three agro-ecological zones of Tanzania to investigate sources, status, quality and storage conditions of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) seeds. Sorghum seed samples were collected from Kwimba (Lake zone), Chamwino (Central zone) and Kilosa (Eastern zone) districts. In surveyed districts 83.3 % of farmers were using farmer saved seeds while 16.7 % were using improved sorghum seeds. In surveyed areas, 85 % of seed samples were obtained from small scale farmers as farmer saved seeds, 1.7% from seed stockists and 13.3% from agriculture research institutions. Seeds were found stored in the households (86.7%) and in go-down in case of seeds stockists (13.3%). The laboratory purity analysis test results indicated that Kwimba had pure seeds of 94.4%, Chamwino 96.5% and Kilosa 99.0%. Inert matters; Kwimba 5.3%, Chamwino 1.8% and Kilosa 1.0%. The non-sorghum seeds observed were Kwimba 0.2%, Chamwino 1.8% and Kilosa 0%. The results were significantly different at P<0.001 from one agro-ecological zones to another. The germination test of sorghum seeds varied highly significantly (P