EFFECT OF HYDROPRIMING ON GERMINATION, EMERGENCE, GROWTH AND YIELD OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max (L.) Merill).

Abstract

ABSTRACT Laboratory and field research was conducted during the 2018 rainy season at The Crop science laboratory and Dry Land Teaching and Research Farm of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto to study the effect of hydropriming on germination, emergence, growth and yield of soya bean (Glycine max). Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of five hydropriming durations (0, 6, 8, 10 and 12hours) and two soya bean varieties (TGX-1448 and Ex-Sokoto) laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Data was collected on seed germination, seedling emergence, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and grain yield. Results revealed that, there was a significant difference at (P<0.05) between hydro-priming durations on seed germination,seedling emergence, plant height, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and grain yield. In most traits 6hour seed hydropriming provided the best result. Moreover, the effect of interaction between variety and hydropriming durationwas significant (P<0.05) onseed germination, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and grain yield. The results indicated that variety Ex-Sokoto had the highest seed germination with 10hour hydropriming, while TGX-1448 variety excelled in number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and grain yield. Furthermore, there was significant difference among varieties onseed germination, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod and 100 seed weight at (P<0.05) and in most traits variety TGX-1448 performed better as compared to the Ex-Sokotovariety. Based on the results obtained in this research, seed hydroprimingcan be used to obtain better improvement in growth and increase in yield. It was therefore recommended to adopt the 6hour hydropriming treatment for soybeans. ABSTRACT Laboratory and field research was conducted during the 2018 rainy season at The Crop science laboratory and Dry Land Teaching and Research Farm of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto to study the effect of hydropriming on germination, emergence, growth and yield of soya bean (Glycine max). Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of five hydropriming durations (0, 6, 8, 10 and 12hours) and two soya bean varieties (TGX-1448 and Ex-Sokoto) laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Data was collected on seed germination, seedling emergence, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and grain yield. Results revealed that, there was a significant difference at (P<0.05) between hydro-priming durations on seed germination,seedling emergence, plant height, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and grain yield. In most traits 6hour seed hydropriming provided the best result. Moreover, the effect of interaction between variety and hydropriming durationwas significant (P<0.05) onseed germination, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and grain yield. The results indicated that variety Ex-Sokoto had the highest seed germination with 10hour hydropriming, while TGX-1448 variety excelled in number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and grain yield. Furthermore, there was significant difference among varieties onseed germination, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod and 100 seed weight at (P<0.05) and in most traits variety TGX-1448 performed better as compared to the Ex-Sokotovariety. Based on the results obtained in this research, seed hydroprimingcan be used to obtain better improvement in growth and increase in yield. It was therefore recommended to adopt the 6hour hydropriming treatment for soybeans.