Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 1
Written by Viorel FĂTU, Laura ȘOPTEREAN, Luxița RÎȘNOVEANU, Mihaela Monica DINU, Ana-Cristina FĂTU
This study evaluates the efficacy of maize seed treatments to identify environmentally friendly crop protection solutions and reduce reliance on toxic chemical pesticides. Conventional products (Signal, Redigo Pro) and organic treatments (Bioseed, Biosem, Raiza Mix) were tested during 2024 at ARDS Turda (Transylvanian Plateau) and ARDS Brăila (Romanian Plain). Requiem Prime and Repel Aves, typically used as foliar repellents, were experimentally tested as seed treatments. The experiments were conducted on Turda 344 and Harmonium hybrids, respectively, analyzing seedling emergence dynamics, pest resistance, yield, hectoliter weight, and 1000-kernel weight. At ARDS Turda, Repel Aves (250 ppm) showed the highest emergence and yield increases (20-25%) under drought conditions, while higher concentrations (1000 ppm) caused phytotoxicity. At ARDS Brăila, Requiem Prime (250 ppm), Redigo Pro, and Signal achieved the best results, with high yields and superior quality. Organic treatments like Bioseed and Biosem showed intermediate performance, while untreated seeds had the weakest results. The study highlights biological seed treatments as effective and sustainable alternatives, enhancing yield and resilience to climatic stressors while supporting eco-friendly agriculture.
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