Effect of seed priming and seed rate on the performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was carried out to determine the impact of different seed rates and priming strategies on germination percentage, growth attributes and yield of wheat. The experiment comprised of twelve treatments i.e. dry seed surface seeding; 12 hour soaked seed surface seeding; seed priming with 1% KNO3 and seed priming with 1% CaCl2 at 100, 125 and 150 kg/ha seed rate. The results indicated that highest final germination percentage (84 %) at 10 DAS was found with seed priming with 1% CaCl2 at 100 kg/ha seed rate. The tallest plant was observed with seed priming with 1% CaCl2 at 150 kg/ha seed rate. However, number of tiller/m2 and dry matter accumulation was recorded maximum with seed priming with 1% CaCl2 at 150 kg/ha seed rate, which was 7.27% and 20% higher compared to number of tillers/m2 and dry matter accumulation under dry seed surface seeding with 100 kg/ha seed rate respectively. Among different treatments, highest grain yield (4662 kg/ha) and straw yield (5694 kg/ha) were found with seed priming with 1% CaCl2 at 150 kg/ha seed rate. Similarly, maximum gross (₹114851/ha) and net (₹76884/ha) returns were obtained in seed priming with 1% CaCl2 at 150 kg/ha seed rate but highest B: C ratio (3.09) obtained with seed priming with 1% CaCl2 at 125 kg/ha seed rate. Hence, adopting seed priming strategies at different seed rates can improve growth and yield of wheat.