Studies on Priming Techniques for Enhancing Planting Value, Seed Quality and Yield of Wheat (T. aestivum) in the Bundelkhand Region
Shekh Tabrej *
Department of Seed Science and Technology, B.U. Jhansi, U.P., India.
Maneesh Kumar
Department of Seed Science and Technology, B.U. Jhansi, U.P., India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024–25 at the Organic Research Farm, Kargua Ji, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the effects of seed priming techniques on the growth, seed quality and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Bundelkhand conditions. The experiment was arranged in a randomised block design with seven seed priming treatments and three replications. The treatments included T₁–control (unprimed seed), T₂–hydro-priming (soaking in water for 8 h at 25°C followed by air drying for 48 h), T₃–halo-priming with 0.5% KCl, T₄–halo-priming with 0.3% MgSO₄, T₅–halo-priming with 0.5% KNO₃, T₆–halo-priming with 0.3% ZnSO₄ and T₇–halo-priming with 0.5% KOH, followed by drying before sowing. Data on growth, yield attributes, seed yield and seed quality parameters were subjected to analysis of variance, and treatment means were compared at the 5% level of significance (P ≤ 0.05). Seed priming improved growth and yield parameters compared with the unprimed control. Among the treatments, KNO₃ priming (T₅) produced the highest plant height (91.13 cm), tillers per plant (9.23), spikes per plant (7.50), seeds per spike (19.70) and seed yield (10.81 g plant⁻¹). The findings indicate that 0.5% KNO₃ seed priming is an effective pre-sowing treatment for improving planting value, seed quality and wheat productivity under the agro-climatic conditions of the Bundelkhand region.
Keywords: Triticum aestivum, seed priming, hydro-priming, halo-priming, potassium nitrate, zinc sulphate, seed quality, seed yield, planting value