Hydro-Priming and Re-Drying Effects on Germination, Emergence and Growth of Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in the field and laboratory during the 2011 wet and dry seasons to investigate the effect of hydro-priming and drying duration on the germination, emergence and growth of seedlings of upland rice. Treatments consisted of four hydro-primed durations of 12, 24, 36 and 48 hrs at two and four hours of drying and unprimed (control) laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) replicated three times. Results show that there was significant effect (P<0.05) of hydro priming on all the growth parameters except the plant height at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after sowing. It was therefore concluded that upland rice variety, NERICA 2 can successfully be hydro-primed for 12 hrs in order to obtain greater establishment and growth performance under Sokoto conditions. Hydrated seeds can be re-dried for four hours without loss of physiological advancement obtained from hydration phase.

Keywords: Hydro priming, drying, germination, seedling emergence, seedling growth, upland rice, Oryza sativa