Effect of different seed priming techniques on germination and seedling vigor of summer maize in Chitwan, Nepal.
Description
Summer maize is a popular grain crop however, its yield is lower in Nepal due to water stress, drought, and other unfavorable environmental conditions. In such cases, priming can be done to improve its germination and crop establishment. Germination and seedling vigor tests were done in the field and lab conditions using six treatments including priming by water, 1% KNO3, 1% common salt, 50 ppm GA3, 10g/kg Trichoderma and control in RCBD with 3 replications. Observations were taken up to 20 days from sowing on alternate days. Among all the treatments hormopriming shows the most desirable results for the studied parameters. It gives the best results with increased germination percent, germination index with lower mean and median germination time, and higher vigor index I and vigor index II in both field and lab conditions. The result indicates the need for seed priming in summer maize for better germination, early seedling establishment, and higher seedling vigor.