ICAR-IIOR develops smart seed coating to boost crop yields up to 30 per cent

ICAR Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research developed a biopolymer-based smart seed coating technology that enhances germination, crop establishment and yields. Field trials in Telangana showed up to 30% yield gains in groundnut and soybean under farmer conditions

New Delhi: ICAR Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR IIOR) in Hyderabad developed and demonstrated a biopolymer based Smart Seed Coating Technology to improve seed quality, crop establishment and yields, an official statement said on Thursday.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, demonstrations conducted in Telangana recorded nearly 30 per cent yield improvements in groundnut and soybean when compared to conventional farmer practices.

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The new technology strengthens resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses across a wide range of agricultural crops and improves farm productivity, the ministry said.

The patented coating uses biodegradable biopolymers to form a multifunctional protective layer around seeds. The coating acts as a carrier system for beneficial microorganisms, nutrients, micronutrients, crop protection agents, and plant growth-promoting compounds, delivering them directly at the seed-soil interface.

This protective microenvironment promotes rapid germination, vigorous seedling growth, enhanced root development, and improved tolerance to environmental stresses during the critical crop establishment phase.

Superior seed performance is critical as agriculture faces increasing challenges from climate change, erratic rainfall, drought, temperature extremes, soil degradation, emerging pests and diseases, and declining resource-use efficiency.

Strengthening seed performance during the early stages of crop growth offers one of the most cost-effective and scalable approaches to improving agricultural productivity.

Field demonstrations conducted under farmer-field conditions have shown substantial improvements in crop establishment, plant vigour, and productivity.

Similar seed enhancement approaches have demonstrated positive impacts across multiple crops under diverse agro-climatic conditions.

Multi-location AICRP-Seed trials across soybean, maize, groundnut, chickpea, cotton, mustard, and pigeon pea demonstrated consistent improvements in seedling vigour, crop establishment, and yield, with productivity gains ranging from 12 to 37 per cent over untreated controls.

The technology is particularly relevant for rainfed agriculture, which accounts for a major share of India’s cultivated area and is highly vulnerable to climatic uncertainties.

The technology can be customised for cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds, fibre crops, fodder crops, vegetables, spices, and horticultural crops, the statement noted.

ICAR-IIOR scientists emphasised that future agricultural growth will increasingly depend on technologies that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of every input used by farmers.

ICAR-IIOR is also promoting partnerships with public and private seed systems for large-scale dissemination and adoption.