Effect of seed inoculation with bio-fertilizer on germination and early growth of corn

Abstract: In order to study effect of seed inoculation with nitragin as bio-fertilizer at concentrations of 6, 7 and 8 cc and distilled water as control on germination and early growth of corn, a laboratory experiment was conducted in Islamic Azad University of Tabriz in completely randomized design with three replicates. The results revealed that in those corn seeds were inoculated with 6 cc nitragin, root length increased by 35%, compared with the control. Inoculation of corn seeds before planting with 6 cc nitragin gave rise in shoot length around 54%, compared with un-primed ones. In seeds treated with the same treatment seedling length increased up to 222mm, in comparison to check plots. When nitragin concentration reduced up to 8 cc, shoot dry weight increased nearly 17g. In 6 cc nitragin, root/shoot dry weight ratio increased by 2%, and due to primed seeds with 8cc nitragin improved 16%. In the highest nitragin concentration crop CGR increased by 43%, compared in comparison with control. Also, the lowest CGR occurred in seeds treated with distilled water. It was concluded that corn producers could improve germination and early growth of corn by seed priming with nitragin.