Dr. Sekhar Kumar
Market Development Agronomist - India
Goal: To evaluate the efficacy of SEED SOAK™ on corn seed performance under controlled and field conditions.
Date: June, 2025
Location: India
Crop: Corn (Maize)
INTRODUCTION
Corn or Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, playing a key role in global food security, animal feed, and industrial applications. It is cultivated in over 170 countries and contributes significantly to economic stability, especially in developing agricultural economies.
In India, maize has become a strategic crop due to its versatility, adaptability to different agro-climatic zones, and increasing demand from the poultry, starch, and ethanol industries. With millions of hectares under cultivation, achieving uniform germination and strong early establishment is essential to maximize productivity and profitability for Indian farmers.
Why seed treatment is a critical first step
The success of a corn crop starts long before emergence. Seed treatment is fundamental to ensure:
Faster and more uniform germination
Strong early root and shoot development
Higher seedling vigor
Better tolerance to early stress conditions
A strong start means better crop stand, improved nutrient uptake, and greater yield potential throughout the season.
METHODOLOGY
Design: Field and Laboratory proof
Applications: Five
Evaluations: Various parameters were evaluated to assess the benefits of the different treatments on the treated seeds.
The research evaluated the effect of SEED SOAK™ alone and in combination with Zin X™ and other treatments on corn/maize seed performance under different test conditions, including tray trials, between-paper germination tests, and field conditions.
Germination & Speed of Emergence
From the Tray Test:
Germination showed a significant increase from 82.5% (Control) to 87.5% with Seed Soak™ alone.
The combination Seed Soak™ + Insecticide + Fungicide (T5) reached 97.5% germination.
Faster germination was also observed: seeds under T5 and T3 treatments emerged earlier and more uniformly.
Seedling Vigor & Growth
From the Between Paper Test:
Germination improved from 76% (Control) to 82% with Seed Soak™ and up to 93.33% with T5.
Shoot length increased from 13.66 cm (Control) to 14.42 cm (Seed Soak™) and up to 19.05 cm (T5).
Root length improved significantly, reaching 21.14 cm with T5 versus 15.50 cm in the control.
Vigor index increased from 1045.92 in control to 1184.07 with Seed Soak™ and 1778.11 with T5.
Field Performance
From the Field Trial
Plant height increased to 30.6 cm with T5 compared to 28.5 cm in the control.
Root length increased from 8.95 cm (Control) to 12.25 cm with Seed Soak™ and up to 12.5 cm with T5.
Seedling weight increased dramatically: Control: 15.4 g Seed Soak™: 14.3 g Seed Soak™ + Zin X™: 18.1 g T5: 25.9 g
Even Seed Soak™ alone consistently showed improvements in germination, plant vigor, and root development compared to untreated seeds.
CONCLUSIONS
According to the official conclusion in the report:
Seed Soak™ significantly improves seed germination, speed of emergence and seedling vigor.
The combination with other products (Zin X™, insecticide, fungicide) further enhances plant height, root development, and early biomass.
Visual evaluations confirmed stronger roots and shoots in treatments including Seed Soak™, especially in T3 and T5.
These results clearly demonstrate that seed treatment with SEED SOAK™ is a powerful tool for securing a stronger, healthier and more uniform start in maize crops, especially under variable field conditions like those commonly found across India.
