18. Enhancing productivity of late sown wheat with hydro-priming

Abstract

A field trial was carried out to investigate the effect of seed priming on the productivity of late sown wheat during fall-2016. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-plot arrangement having three replications. Two factors (sowing dates and priming) were tested in the experiment. Sowing dates (29^th Oct, 10^th Nov, 24^th Nov, 10^th Dec, 26^th Dec and 10^th Jan) were assigned to main plots, while priming (non-primed and primed) was allotted to sub-plots. Wheat variety “SIRAN-2010” was sown in a plot size of 1.8m x 5m. Results showed that wheat crop sown on 29^th Oct resulted in early emergence (6 days), increased emergence m^-2 (139) plant height (101.61cm), spikes m^-2 (280), grains spike^-1 (46.63), thousand grain weight (44g), biological yield (9770 kg ha^-1) and grain yield (4038 kg ha^-1). Late sown wheat in (10^th Jan) took lesser days (136) to maturity. In case of seed priming early emergence (11 days), more emergence m^-2 (102), taller plants (85.19cm), more spikes m^-2 (216), higher grains spike^-1 (40.18), maximum 1000-grains weight (37g), maximum grain yield (3116 kg ha^-1) and maximum biological yield (7630 kg ha^-1) was recorded in plots sown with hydro-primed seed. However, dry sown seed took more days (163) to emergence. Hence it is concluded that sowing from 29^th Oct to 10^th Nov significantly increased yield and yield related components of wheat. Similarly seed priming is necessary for higher yield of late sown wheat.

Keywords: Hydro-priming; Wheat; Sowing dates

http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2018.700156