Pre‐sowing static magnetic field treatment for improving water and radiation use efficiency in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under soil moisture stress

Abstract

Soil moisture stress during pod filling is a major constraint in production of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a fundamentally dry land crop. We investigated effect of pre-sowing seed priming with static magnetic field (SMF) on alleviation of stress through improvement in radiation and water use efficiencies. Experiments were conducted under greenhouse and open field conditions with desi and kabuli genotypes. Seeds exposed to SMF (strength: 100 mT, exposure: 1 h) led to increase in root volume and surface area by 70% and 65%, respectively. This enabled the crop to utilize 60% higher moisture during the active growth period (78-118 days after sowing), when soil moisture became limiting. Both genotypes from treated seeds had better water utilization, biomass, and radiation use efficiencies (17%, 40%, and 26% over control). Seed pre-treatment with SMF could, therefore, be a viable option for chickpea to alleviate soil moisture stress in arid and semi-arid regions, helping in augmenting its production. It could be a viable option to improve growth and yield of chickpea under deficit soil moisture condition, as the selection and breeding program takes a decade before a tolerant variety is released. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:400-408, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Appraisal of foliar spray of iron and salicylic acid under artificial magnetism on morpho-physiological attributes of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants

“…Similar findings were also reported by Selim and El-Nady [ 6 ] in tomato under magnetic treatment in response to drought stress. Nilimesh et al [ 57 ] documented that presowing magnetic field treatment increases carotenoid content in chickpea under soil moisture stress. Furthermore it is important to note that North Root treatment tend to have maximum chlorophyll contents as compared to other magnetism treatment.…”

Irrigation with Magnetized Water Affects the Soil Microenvironment and Fruit Quality of Eggplants in a Covered Vegetable Production System in Shouguang City, China

“…Magnetic treatment as a noninvasive technique with high efficiency and low cost has been used in agriculture for many years (Mridha et al 2016;Xie et al 2009) to promote the soil microenvironment and improve plant growth. Previous studies have indicated that magnetic treatment induced some changes in the water (Chibowski and Szczé 2018), such as breaking hydrogen bonds, increasing viscosity, enhancing nutrient solubility, and decreasing the contact angle (Maheshwari and Grewal 2009;Evelyn et al 2008).…”

Magnetopriming Actuates Nitric Oxide Synthesis to Regulate Phytohormones for Improving Germination of Soybean Seeds under Salt Stress

“…Seed priming is a technique to stimulate seed metabolic processes during germination and improve their performance under diverse environmental conditions [ 7 , 8 ]. Magnetopriming is a non-invasive dry seed priming treatment that has been widely used to enhance seedling vigor and plant growth under various environmental cues [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. It can improve seedling growth under various abiotic stresses (drought, salt, heavy metal toxicity and UV-B stress) via increased metabolic processes like α-amylase, protease, nitrate reductase and nitric oxide synthase-like activities during germination [ 9 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”