Abstract
The study aimed at to determining the productivity of quality seed, its storage performance and field performance as influenced by planting time in the off-season, stage of maturity and type of container used during storage. The experiments were conducted during July 1997 to February 2002. Results reveal that planting jute seed crop in the off-season during 15 July to 1 October affected both yield and quality of seeds. Planting earlier from 15 July15 August gave much higher yield of better quality seeds than those planted from I September to 1 October. The crops harvested at the stages of 20%, 50% and 80% pod brown did not affect seed yield, but affected quality of the produce. Quality of seed successively increased due to increase in the stage of maturity. The higher seed quality attributes attained due to earlier planting time and delayed stage of maturity persisted throughout the storage period. Plastic container and tin cane were found less permeable to moisture transmission compared with polyethylene bag in earthen pot and polyethylene bag in jute sack. Plastic container and tin can also retained higher seed quality attributes throughout the storage period. Seeds of early planting time and latter stage of maturity whenever interacted with plastic container and tin can maintained higher quality of seeds at storage. Seeds stored with lower moisture regime ranging from 7.25% to 8.20% maintained higher quality seeds. The crops grown with seeds of different times did not affect fibre yield in the experiment of 1998, but affected in that of year 2000. Seeds of different stages of maturity had no effect on fibre - yield productivity. Seeds of early planting time and latter stage of maturity showed little numerical edges in fibre production. The crops grown with seeds stored in plastic container gave slightly higher edge in fibre yield in comparison to seeds stored in tin can, but their difference was not significant. Results in respect of production of seed, storage performance and field performance indicated that planting jute seed crop from 15 July to 1 September, harvested at the stages of 50% and 80% pod brown and stored either in plastic container or in tin can retained better quality seeds. Provided seeds were dried to a safe moisture range from 7.25% to 8.20%.