Authored By: A Zaman & Md Hedaytullah
ISBN: 9789367552322
Binding: Hardback
Year of Publishing: 2026
Imprint: CONTENT VIBES
Pages: 120
Language: English
Length: 229
Breadth: 14
Height: 152
Weight: 320
Seed Production and Testing Technology is a comprehensive practical manual developed to impart hands-on skills essential for seed quality evaluation, scientific seed handling, and systematic seed production practices. Designed as a Skill Enhancement Course (SEC) for undergraduate students of agricultural sciences, the book emphasizes experiential learning by replacing traditional lectures with structured laboratory and field-based exercises. It serves as a bridge between theoretical understanding and real-world application, preparing students for professional roles in the seed industry, research institutions, quality control laboratories, and agricultural extension services.
The book covers a broad spectrum of practical competencies required in modern seed technology. Beginning with foundational seed viability and vigor tests—such as standard germination, tetrazolium staining, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, and vigor index calculation—it equips students to evaluate the physiological potential of seeds with accuracy. Modules on physical and genetic purity, moisture determination, and dormancy-breaking techniques ensure learners gain proficiency in assessing overall seed quality and performance.
Practical sessions further extend into seed handling and production practices, including seed collection, post-harvest management, cleaning, grading, packaging, labeling, and storage. Students also learn essential field-level skills such as isolation distance calculation, pollination control (bagging and emasculation), and identification of the optimum time for seed harvest. Attention is given to seed treatment, seed-borne disease detection, and seed rate estimation—skills crucial for sustainable agricultural production.
Advanced topics such as molecular marker-based purity assessment, digital data management systems, and seedling emergence behavior under varied soil conditions provide exposure to emerging technologies in seed science. Each experiment is presented with clear objectives, step-by-step procedures, and guidelines for recording observations, ensuring clarity and ease of execution.
By integrating traditional methodologies with technological advancements, this book empowers learners with practical expertise, analytical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. It aims to build a strong skill foundation that will help students excel in academic pursuits and contribute effectively to the development of a robust and high-quality seed sector.
Seed Viability Test Using Germination Method
Tetrazolium Test for Seed Viability Assessment
Standard Germination Test for Different Crop Seeds
Seed Purity Analysis (Physical Purity Test)
Seed Purity Analysis (Genetic Purity Test)
Moisture Content Determination Using Oven Method
Seedling Vigor Index Calculation
Accelerated Aging Test to Assess Seed Vigor
Electrical Conductivity Test for Seed Vigor
Seed Dormancy Breaking Techniques (e.g., scarification, stratification)
Seed Collection and Post-Harvest Handling Procedures
Seed Cleaning and Grading Using Sieves
Seed Packaging and Labeling Practices
Seed Storage Conditions and Monitoring
Isolation Distance Calculation for Seed Production
Pollination Control Methods (bagging, emasculation)
Seed Harvest Timing and Methods
Seed Treatment with Fungicides or Insecticides
Testing for Seed-borne Diseases
Estimation of Seed Rate for Different Crops
Preparation of Seed Production Plots
Monitoring and Recording Field Seed Production Data
Use of Digital Tools for Seed Testing Data Management
Molecular Marker-Based Seed Purity Testing
Seedling Emergence Studies Under Different Soil Conditions
Effect of Storage Duration on Seed Viability
Assessment of Seed Vigor Using Accelerated Aging and Conductivity Tests
Comparative Study of Different Seed Treatments
Effect of Environmental Factors on Seed Germination
Documentation and Reporting of Seed Testing Results
Prof. (Dr) A Zaman is an internationally renowned scientist specialization with agricultural water management having spectacular career of 46 years. His lifetime and original research contribution in the field of irrigation water management, rainfed agriculture, cropping system, watershed management, dry land agriculture, agricultural heritage and bio-diversity conservation, to name a few, globally appreciated leading to outstanding teachers in farm universities and agricultural extension services in India and abroad. A large number of original concepts, strategies, techniques a tools those developed which have contributed enormously to agricultural science and benefitted the global society. He served as Irrigation Agronomist and formerly Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Director of Research, Head, Department of Agronomy in Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya [SAU], West Bengal, India. He is a former Chief Scientist in AICRP on Water Management (ICAR) and former Associate Director of Research, Regional Research Station, Old Alluvial Zone (Presently UBKV, Pundibari). He has coordinated, associated and involved with post-graduate teaching programme at the University and has significant research experiences in field of water management and in academia and well as having considerable administrative experiences in different capacity at various time frame.
Dr. Zaman worked as Head, Irrigation Expatriate Team, Government of Uganda for 2-year period (1994-1996) under ITEC Programme being deputed by the Government of India to design, lay out and installation of famers managed small scale irrigation for sustainable crop cultivation. He was also designated as IFFCO-Chair Professor. His scholarly publications include more than 200 research papers most of which published in peer-reviewed journals having national and international reputes, 9 book chapters, 7 books with global publishing houses. His academic contribution was profusely appreciated by the International Institute of Bengal and Himalayan Basin patronized by Nobel laureate Charles Town of California, USA where he became co-founder and organized International Conferences in India and Bangladesh bi-annually. He organized and chaired many prestigious international workshops, chaired many technical sessions in scientific meetings and platforms. He has delivered number of invited plenary lectures and key-note addresses and acting as member of Editorial Board members, Examiner and question setter in various agricultural universities in India and Bangladesh. He has 179 publications in the proceedings of national and international seminars and conferences held in the country and abroad in his credit. He guided and supervised 7 (seven) Ph D and at least 50 (fifty) students towards post graduate thesis work. He also worked as Programme Coordinator, West Bengal Accelerated Development of Minor Irrigation Project (World Bank) from 20 September 2014 to 2nd September 2016 after superannuation from the University Service. Prof (Dr) Zaman worked as Emeritus Professor, M S Swaminathan School of Agriculture, CUTM, Paralakhemundi, Odisha since 3rd September 2016 to 31 May 2018.
He was acting as Professor & In charge, founded agricultural education in The Neotia University, Kolkata campus at Sarisa, West Bengal from May, 2018 to April, 2020, organized the School of Agricultural Science in the university and introduced the agricultural academic course curriculum in the university from the academic session of 2018-19 in the university. At present, working as the Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences, Sister Nivedita University, Kolkata being joined on and from 1 May 2020.
Dr. Md Hedaytullah, PhD is an Assistant Professor (Stage II) in the Department of Agronomy and the Officer In-Charge of the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Chickpea (ICAR-IIPR) at the Directorate of Research, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, India. Additionally, he serves as the Farm Administrator of AB Block Farm, BCKV, Kalyani.
Dr. Hedayetullah has extensive experience in agronomy and agricultural research. He previously worked as an Agronomist at the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Balasore, Odisha, and as an Assistant Professor at the M.S. Swaminathan Institute of Agriculture Science, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Gajapati, Odisha. He also served as an Assistant Professor at the College of Agriculture, Government of Tripura, India.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) degree from H.N.B. Garhwal University, Uttarakhand, India, a Master of Science (Agronomy) from Palli Siksha Bhavana, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati University, Sriniketan, West Bengal, and a PhD (Agronomy) from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), West Bengal, India.
Dr. Hedayetullah is a recipient of the prestigious Maulana Azad National Fellowship Award from the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India. He has also secured multiple research fellowships from various funding agencies. Recently, he was honoured with the "Eminent Scientist Award" by Brainware University, Kolkata, and ISAHRD, Chandigarh, at the 9th International Conference on ICANFTA-2025.
With an extensive research background, Dr. Hedayetullah has authored and co-authored 50 research papers, 5 review papers, 30 book chapters, and 9 books. He has successfully guided 8 postgraduate students and is currently supervising 3 PhD students. He has participated in over 30 national and international seminars, symposia, conferences, workshops, and training programs. He is actively involved as a Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) in several national and international funded research projects.
Dr. Hedayetullah is an Editorial Board Member of the Amity Journal of Agribusiness (AJAB) and a life member of several esteemed scientific organizations, including:
Dr. Hedayetullah has actively contributed to agricultural extension programs through participation in various institutional and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) activities, farmers' training programs, and Krishi Melas. He has delivered several live TV talks on "Krishi Darshan," telecasted by Doordarshan Kolkata. He has also organized numerous Front Line Demonstration (FLD) programs and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) FLD farmers' training programs under rice fallow systems, funded by ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, under AICRP on Chickpea.