Effect of Osmopriming Duration on Germination, Emergence, and Early Growth of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp.) in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

Abstract

Seed osmopriming could be a sustainable method to increase crop establishment, uniform emergence, and growth of plant on the field. Laboratory and field studies were carried out in 2010 cropping season at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, to study the effect of seed osmopriming duration on the germination, emergence, and growth of cowpea seeds. Treatments consisted of three osmopriming duration (soaking in 1% KNO3salt for 6, 8, and 10 hrs), one hydroprimed control (10 hr), and an unprimed control. These five treatments were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) replicated four times. The results showed that osmopriming with KNO3for different durations was at par but was superior to unprimed treatments in terms of seed germination, emergence, plant height, and dry matter accumulation at 3 weeks after sowing. From this study, it can therefore be concluded that seeds of cowpea could be primed (both hydro and osmopriming) for increased performance. However, osmopriming with KNO3salt (soaked in 1% KNO3salt solution and dried before sowing) for 6 hours could result in greater seed germination and seedling height than hydropriming.

Influence of Priming Concentration on the Growth and Yield of Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) in Sokoto Semi-Arid Zone of Nigeria

“…(Amaranthus cruentus L.) in Sokoto Semi-Arid Zone of Nigeria The reduction in days to 50% emergence of amaranth obtained in the treatments soaked in 0 and 0.5% KNO 3 solution compared to using higher concentrations suggested that faster seedling emergence could be reached without KNO 3 salt concentration and where used to enhance germination as observed above in days to 50% germination and percentage germination, it should not exceed 0.5%. The finding here was contrary to that of Singh et al [16], who observed better seedling performance with osmo-primed seeds in cowpea. The reason could be because of the differences in the crop under investigation and Amaranth is quite a small seed plant compared to cowpea.…”

Influence of Pre-sowing Seed Treatments on Germination Properties and Early Seedling Growth of Acacia cyanophylla.

“…These results are in agreement with [41] on (Vugna unguiculata), [12] on (Vigna sinensis), [23] on (Oryza sativa).…”

“…However, there were significant differences between treatments and the highest was observed in hydroprimed seeds. Similar effects of hydropriming on the germination rate has been observed by [35] with Acacia tortilis and A. coriacea, [45] with Ziziphus spina-christi and [41] with Vigna unguiculata. Halopriming has also been found effective in enhancing the germination rate of Acacia senegal [6] A. tortilis and A. coriacea [35], Triticum aestivum [5] or Vigna sinensis [12], and Sorghum bicolor [39].…”

“…These include hydropriming, halopriming, hardening and osmopriming [17], hormone priming, solid matrix, humidification and stratification and thermal shock [25]- [32].The first four approaches are the most common for the purposes of priming [12]. It has been reported that seed priming results in the enhancement of seed germination of plants such as mungbean (Vigna radiata) [33], common alder (Anlus glutinosa) [4] and several acacia species [29]- [35]- [36]- [9], (Ziziphus spinachristi) [45], okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) [5],enhancement of emergence rate of armada pine (Pinus armadii) [46], Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) [26], Norway spruce (Picea abies), silver birch (Betula pendula), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and shore pine (Pinus contorta) [40], common alder (Alnus glutinosa) and downy brich (Betula pubescens) [4] maize (Zea mays) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) [19]- [20], mungbean [33], wheat (Triticum aestivum) [27], cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) [41], increased uniformity and seedling establishment of red oak (Quercus rubra) [44], marica (Mimosa bimucronata) [8], lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and white spruce (Picea glauca) [22], and increased output of barley (Hordeum vulgare) [34], maize and chickpea [19]- [21] mungbean [33], and seedlings quality of christimas tress (Pinus brutia) [24], Acacia nilotica [30]. This research is designed to evaluate the response of A. cyanophylla seeds to pre-sowing seed treatments.…”

Seed priming techniques in field crops -A review

“…Hydro-priming for 12 hour and SM priming with calcium aluminium silicate for 24 hour significantly increased the seed germination, seedling vigour, mean germination time and marketable fruit yield. Singh et al, (2014a) conducted an experiment to study the effect of osmo-priming duration on germination, emergence and early growth of cowpea in Nigeria. Treatment consisted three osmo-priming duration (soaking in 1 % KNO 3 salt for 6, 8 and 10 hrs) and one hydro-primed control (10 hr).…”