Evaluation of Germination and Seedling Growth Traits of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Seeds Using Microwave and Magnetized Water Priming

A pot experiment was conducted to assess the combined effects of microwave priming and irrigation with magnetized water on the germination and growth traits of sorghum seeds (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). An experiment with 12 treatments in three replicates was arranged factorial (4x4) in a completely randomized design. Seeds were exposed to microwaves under different exposure times, including (MW0-0 s) as a control, (MW1-10 s), (MW2-20 s), and (MW3-30 s). For the treated water, four water samples underwent magnetization for varying durations: (TW0-0 h) as a control, (TW1-1 h), (TW2-3 h), and (TW3-5 h). Comparison was made between treatments and controls for final germination percent (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), germination rate index (GRI), mean daily germination (MDG), peak value (PV), and germination value (GV). Shoot length (SL), root length (RL) and seedling vigor index (SVI) were also calculated and compared. The results showed that both microwave treatment and irrigation with magnetized water significantly affected all the evaluated traits of sorghum seeds. The interaction between microwave priming and magnetized water for irrigation significantly influenced MGT, GRI, PV, GV, and SVI, while no significant changes were observed in FGP, MDG, SL, and RL. Nevertheless, the MW2-20 s and TW2-3 h treatment yielded superior outcomes across all measured traits compared to the control group. Out of different treatments, a MW-20 s exposure, succeeded by watering with magnetized water after 3 hours, might prove to be most beneficial for sorghum's germination characteristics and the seedlings' development. As a result, this procedure could be employed to boost both the germination of sorghum seeds and the subsequent growth of the seedlings.