Influence of seed priming and soil water content on growth and yield of two rice cultivars grown under greenhouse conditions

The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of seed priming and short-duration drought on the early growth stages and yields of two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design with four replications. Two rice cultivars (KDML 105 and RD6) were assigned in the main plots. Four water irrigation treatments, viz. 100% field capacity (100% FC), the control (W0), and three irrigation treatments of 50% FC applied over a 14-day period (10-25, 26-40 and 41-55 days after planting), were assigned in sub-plots. Three treatments of seed priming, assigned in sub-sub plots, consisted of the untreated control, gibberellic acid and wood vinegar. Relative water content (RWC), plant height, leaf area and shoot dry weight under irrigation with 50% FC in all stress periods were significantly lower than those in the 100% FC control, while grain yield was not significantly different. The RD6 cultivar had significantly higher RWC and plant height than did the KDML 105 cultivar, though they were not significantly different in grain yield. The results lead to the conclusion that rice seeds primed with wood vinegar better maintained RWC and crop growth, resulting in an improved grain yield under water-shortage conditions in both rice cultivars.