EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL OF SEED PRIMING TECHNIQUES IN IMPROVING GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING GROWTH OF VARIOUS RANGELAND GRASSES

Poor and erratic germination is a sever problem in stand establishment of range grasses. In this study, the potential of seed priming techniques in improving germination and early seedling growth of three rangeland grasses (viz, buffet grass (Cenchrus ciliaris (L.), dhaman grass (C. setigerus Vahal), and blue panic grass (Panicum antidotale Retz.) was evaluated in a laboratory trial. For priming, seeds were soaked in well aerated solution of CaCl2, KNO3, KCl and CaSO4 (each having 10 and 50 mM solution) for 24 h. Both hydropriming and untreated seeds were considered as control treatments. Maximum germination of buffet grass was recorded from osmopriming (10 mM KNO3) while in dhaman and blue panic grass low concentration of CaSO3 10 mM followed by priming with 50 mM KNO3 proved the best. Maximum plumule length was recorded in CaSO4 and 50 mM CaCl2 while less mean germination time (1.91 and 2.06) was recorded in untreated control and 10 mM CaCl2 respectively. Osmopriming with 10 mM or 50 mM KNO3 can be successfully employed to improve the germination and seedling vigor in buffet grass and low level of CaSO4 to improved dhaman grass and panic grass performance in rangeland.