Seed priming improves irrigation water use efficiency, yield, and yield components of late-sown wheat under limited water conditions

Authors : Hakoomat ALI, Nadeem IQBAL, Ahmad Naeem SHAHZAD, Naeem SARWAR, Shakeel AHMAD, Athar MEHMOOD

Pages : 534-544

Doi:10.3906/sag-1211-31

View : 12 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2013-10-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :A randomized complete block design field study with split plot arrangements was conducted during 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 at the Agronomic Research Station in Khanewal, Pakistan, to evaluate if seed priming could improve grain yield and water use efficiency of late-sown wheat under limited water supply conditions. Seeds of cultivar Inqlab-91 received one of the following treatments: they were soaked in aerated distilled water for 12 or 24 h insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(hydropriming);, layered between moist gunny bags for 12 or 24 h insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(matriconditioning);, soaked in tap water for 12 h insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(on-farm priming);, or hydroprimed for 12 h and then kept at -20 °C for 12 h insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(hydropriming + chilling);. Crops were subjected to 5 irrigation regimes in which irrigation was applied equivalent to 120%, 100%, 80%, 60%, or 40% of evapotranspiration insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ETo);. Seed priming treatments reduced the mean emergence time and promoted germination, early canopy development, and tillering in comparison to the untreated control. The number of fertile tillers, plant height, 1000-grain weight, and grain and biological yield were also increased by different priming techniques. On-farm priming and hydropriming for 12 h gave higher grain and biological yields and higher harvest index than other priming treatments. Seed priming increased the irrigation water use efficiency insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IWUE); of all irrigation regimes. Grain yields were linearly increased at 100% ETo while maximum IWUE was achieved at 80% ETo. Results suggest that the use of either on-farm priming or hydropriming of seeds for 12 h can be helpful in improving grain yields in late-sown wheat under both optimum as well as limited water conditions.
Keywords : Key words Irrigation, late sowing, seed priming, water deficit, wheat, yield