Optimizing chickpea ( <i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) seed quality through seed storage technologies under different locations in central Ethiopia

Abstract A significant loss of seed quality may occur for planting under traditional on‐farm chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) seed storage techniques. We evaluated six alternative seed storage techniques over a 6‐month period: (a) polypropylene bags (PPBs; traditionally used for on‐farm seed storage), as the control; (b) filter cake (FC)–blended seed stored in PPBs (PPB+FC); (c) plastic drums (PDs); (d) FC‐blended seed stored in PDs (PD+FC); (e) Super Grain Pro bags; and (f) Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags. The evaluation was conducted under ambient laboratory conditions at the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute and the Bishoftu Agricultural Research Center. Storage conditions, seed moisture content (SMC), seed germination (SG), seedling length, seedling dry weight, and seed vigor index I were measured every 2 months for 6 months. The results showed that the SMC of seed stored using alternative methods varied from 9.3% to 11.3%, whereas those in PPB had SMC ranging from 12.3% to 12.7% after 6 months of storage at the two locations. High SG was maintained by alternative storage techniques, ranging from 90.0% to 92.7% over 6 months at both locations. However, seed stored in the PPB for 6 months at the BARC had the lowest SG (78.7%). Hermetic bags maintained chickpea seed vigor throughout the storage period at both locations. In contrast, the non‐hermetic storage technique resulted in a significant decline in seedling vigor over 6 months at both locations. This study found that hermetic seed storage technologies can preserve seed quality for 6 months, regardless of the storage location. Therefore, this study affirmed the need to promote effective alternative seed storage technologies to enhance chickpea productivity and farmers’ livelihoods.