Effect of Seed Priming Techniques on Germination, Growth and Yield Attributes of Aged Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important legume crops globally, valued for its high protein content and role in sustainable agriculture through nitrogen fixation. However, seed ageing significantly affects its germination and field performance, necessitating effective strategies to enhance seed vigor and productivity. A field study was conducted during the Rabi 2024–25 season at the Organic Research Farm, Department of Seed Science and Technology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U.P.), to evaluate the impact of various seed invigoration treatments on aged chickpea seeds harvested in 2023–24. Eight treatments, including hydration, osmo-conditioning, and chemical priming (with GA₃, KH₂PO₄, CaCl₂, and KNO₃), were compared with untreated aged seeds. Significant improvements were observed in field emergence, plant population, plant height, number of branches and pods per plant, and seed yield due to invigoration treatments. Among all treatments, seed priming with 2% calcium chloride (T7) recorded the highest seed yield (12.15 g per plant, 1.60 kg per plot), maximum number of branches (22.70), and the greatest plant height at maturity (39.17 cm). These findings underscore the potential of seed invigoration, particularly with CaCl₂, as an effective technique to restore vigor and improve field performance in aged chickpea seeds.