Effect of presowing electromagnetic treatments on long-term stored cotton seeds

Minka Koleva

Abstract: A three-step electromagnetic treatment was used for ecologically clean improvement of the laboratory sowing qualities of cotton seeds of the Helius cultivars, which had been stored for several years. It was found that when treating the seeds with initial values of the controllable factors: U4=6 kV and 4=5 s, all seeds, regardless of how many years they were stored before being treated in an electromagnetic field, reacted positively and had increased values of the observed indicators. In addition, after one year of storage, the total masses of root and sprout (mroot + msprout)=138.4%/C were found to be equal to the total lengths of root and sprout ℓroot+ℓsprout=140.3%/C. These values are comparable to the results obtained after pre-sowing treatments, according to options 1 (with initial U1 = 8 kV and 1 = 15 s) and 2 (with initial U1 = 6 kV and 1 = 15 s). To comply with the safety technique and increase the productivity in the pre-sowing electromagnetic treatments of cotton seeds, regardless of their storage period, a three-stage electromagnetic treatment of cotton seeds, the cultivar Helius, with the following step values of the controllable factors is recommended: U1= 6 kV and 1=5 s, U2=4.5 kV and 2=15 s, U3= 3 kV and 3=25 s. Pre-sowing electromagnetic treatments are an environmentally friendly way to both increase the laboratory parameters of cotton seeds and preserve the viability of some cotton varieties.

Keywords: cotton seeds; laboratory parameters; pre-sowing electromagnetic treatments; the cultivar Helius

Citation: Koleva, M., (2025). Effect of presowing electromagnetic treatments on long-term stored cotton seeds. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 31(5), 976–982

Date published: 2025-10-28