Effect of seed priming for zinc nutrition of rainfed maize pea sequence under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Seed priming techniques for maize and pea crop are not well established for rainfed agro-climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh. Keeping this in view, the present study entitled Effect of seed priming for zinc nutrition of rainfed maize - pea sequence under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh was undertaken considering the beneficial effects of seed priming on germination and vigour for maintenance of optimum plant population to obtain higher yield levels. The study was carried out for two years (2014-15 and 2015-16) at the experimental farm of Hill Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Bajaura, Kullu (31°84´ N latitude and 77°16´ E longitude). Four priming levels of Zn (0% ZnSO4-water soaking, 1% ZnSO4, 2% ZnSO4 and 3% ZnSO4) and three priming durations (4 hours, 8 hours and 12 hours) were compared with basal dose of recommended NPK + ZnSO4 and farmers practice (absolute control).The data were recorded on various growth parameters (% germination, plant stand and plant height) and yield attributing characters (pod and cob length, number of pods and cobs/plant, number of grains/pod, cob girth, test weight of maize grains and pod and cob shelling percentage). The concentrations of macro and micronutrients at different growth stages and also their availability in soil were also determined after pea and maize harvest. Soil samples collected before start of the experiment and after pea and maize harvest during both years, were analyzed for various soil properties. The data generated from the field and laboratory studies were subjected to statistical analysis using the technique of analysis of variance for factorial randomized block design. Seed priming with 0% ZnSO4 (water soaking) resulted in higher germination of pea and maize than other priming levels. Therefore, water soaking for a period of 12 hours may be used for enhancing emergence and better seedling growth in pea and maize crop. Most of the growth and yield attributing characters of pea crop were improved due to priming with 1% ZnSO4 for 12 hours, newlinehowever such characters in maize crop were found to be better using 2% priming solution of ZnSO4 for a period of 12 hours. The yield of green peas, maize equivalent, stover yield, net returns and B:C were maximum due to priming with 1% ZnSO4 for 12 hours duration, however, maize grain, stover yield, net returns and B:C were highest with treatment combination of 2% ZnSO4 priming for 12 hours duration. The concentration of macro nutrients (N, P and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn and Cu) of pea and maize leaves at initial and harvest stage were not affected either due to priming levels or their durations. However, Zn content at all stages of pea and maize crop was highest due to priming with 2% ZnSO4 for a duration time of 12 hours. The N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Cu uptake of pea pods and stover was highest using 1% priming solution of ZnSO4 for a duration period of 12 hours, whereas Zn uptake by pea pods and stover was found maximum due to priming with 2% ZnSO4 for a period of 12 hours. Similarly, N, P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu uptake of maize grains and stover was found highest with 2% ZnSO4 priming done for a period of 12 hours. The quality of fresh pea pods (TSS) and protein content of pea and maize grains were not influenced due to treatments. The most of measured soil properties after harvest of pea and maize were not influenced due to various treatments, however DTPA-extractable Zn in soil was significantly affected due to different treatments and its contents improved with increasing levels of priming and durations. It may be concluded that priming of pea seeds for 12 hours with 1% ZnSO4 and that of maize seeds for 12 hours using 2% solution of ZnSO4 was useful for proper germination, better crop establishment and yields enhancement. newline newline