Seed priming in moisture-stress conditions to improve growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

An experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2010-11 to 2013-14 at Karnal, Haryana to assess the impact of seed priming on crop establishment, growth, productivity and water-use efficiency of wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend, Fiori & Paoli under different moisture regimes. The experiment was carried out in a split-plot design with 3 main-plot treatments (seeding at optimum moisture level, sub-optimal moisture level and in air dry soil followed by irrigation) and 3 sub-plot treatments (no seed priming, matriconditioning and sprouted seed). Sprouted seed (5.49 t/ha) and matriconditioning (5.30 t/ha) resulted in significantly higher grain yield corn pared to unprimed seeds. The difference among various seeding methods were found statistically at par. Matriconditioning and sprouted seeds germinated earlier than non-primed seeds leading to better crop establishment under optimum, sub-optimum soil moisture as well as air dry soil conditions having a moisture content 17.5, 01, 10.9 and 6.2%, respectively, estimated by gravimetric method leading to higher tillering and grain yield. The results showed that matriconditioning and sprouted seeds improved germination indices, seedling growth and crop establishment.