SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT AND YIELD OF MAIZE UNDER DIFFERENT SEED PRIMING PERIODS AND AVAILABLE SOIL MOISTURE

Hydropriming of seeds responded very well to improve germination and emergence of many Agronomic crops. Among different strategies to cope with germinability issues, hydropriming is an easy, low cost, and low risk technique. Seed priming is as pre-sowing treatment in water or in an osmotic solution that allows seed to imbibe water to initiate the first stages of germination, but prevents radicle protrusion through the seed coat. Rapid and uniform field emergence is an essential prerequisite to reach the yield potential, quality, and ultimately profit in annual crops. Establishment of an adequate stand is also important for grain yield of crops and is uncertain in most of the tropical areas because available soil moisture at planting is often marginal for plant growth. Water stress during seed germination is among the most widespread abiotic stresses limiting seedling emergence, which ultimately reduces crop productivity. To achieve the objective of the study, field experiment was conducted at Students Farm, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan. The experiment was laid out under Randomized Complete Block Design (Factorial) with three replications, to evaluate the effect of hydropriming periods (0 (control) 6, 12, 18, and 24 h) and available soil moisture levels (60-65, 55-60 and 50-55%) on maize (Zea mays L.) seedling growth and yield traits. Results showed maximum seedling growth traits viz. shoot length, root length, shoot dry weight plant^-1, root dry weight plant^-1, leaves seedling^-1, crop growth rate and leaf area plant^-1, and maximum yield traits viz. cobs plant^-1, grains cob^-1, seed index and seed yield when maize seed was sown for 18 h hydropriming. Similarly, In case of available soil moisture treatments maximum shoot length, root length, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, leaves seedling^-1 crop growth rate, leaf area plant^-1, cobs plant^-1, grains cob^-1, seed index and seed yield were observed when maize seeds were sown in 60-65 and 55-60% available soil moisture, respectively. It is concluded that hydropriming is an efficient technique for enhanced seed emergence and seedling establishment under optimal and sub-optimal available soil moisture conditions. This study recommends 18h hydropriming before sowing maize when sown in 55-65% available soil moisture to achieve maximum emergence, establishment of vigorous rooting system and uniform plant stands which are necessary for growth and yield of maize.