Effect of seed priming and vermicompost on growth and yield of wheat

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the integrated effect of priming along with vermicompost
on growth and yield of wheat. The three priming agents viz. 2% KCl, 1.0% KNO3 and 10%
polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000; and three doses of vermicompost viz. 150, 300 and 500 g/pot were
used in this experiment. The hydropriming and without vermicompost were used as their respective
controls in the individual experiment of priming and vermicompost, respectively. Seeds were pretreated
with the priming agents for 24 h before being sown in pots amended with varying doses of
vermicompost. Data on plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and absolute growth rate (AGR)
were recorded at different intervals after sowing. Vermicompost was significantly influenced plant
height and leaf area, with 300 and 500 g treatments consistently yielding the highest values across
various intervals. Priming agents, particularly 2% KCl, consistently produced taller plants with larger
leaf areas. The combined effect of 500 g vermicompost and 2% KCl exhibited superior results in plant
height and leaf area. Chlorophyll content varied with different doses of vermicompost, and 2% KCl
consistently produced the highest values. The AGR was notably higher in treatments with 500 g
vermicompost and 2% KCl priming, indicating enhanced crop development. The combination of 500g
vermicompost and 2% KCl proved to be particularly effective, resulting in a high number of spikes and
tillers, the highest grain weight, and an improved 100-grain weight. These findings highlighted that the
potential of combining 500 g vermicompost and 2% KCl priming as a sustainable strategy to improve
wheat growth, productivity, and yield.