Effect of Seed Priming on Germination and Early Seedling Vigour of Maize in Kebbi State

This study examines the effect of different seed priming methods on germination speed, uniformity, and early seedling vigour of maize in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. Rapid and uniform crop establishment is critical for achieving competitive advantage over weeds and maximising the effective growing season, particularly in the short rainy season of the North West. Seed priming, which involves partial hydration of seeds before planting, can significantly improve germination rate and seedling vigour, particularly under marginal moisture conditions. This study tests five priming treatments: hydropriming in distilled water for 12 and 24 hours, osmopriming in potassium nitrate solution at minus 1.2 megapascal for 12 hours, hardening with water followed by re-drying, and unprimed control using SAMMAZ 15 maize variety. Laboratory germination tests measure percentage germination, mean germination time, germination index, and vigour index. Field emergence rate, seedling height, and leaf area at 14 and 21 days after planting are measured in a complementary field experiment at the Federal University Birnin Kebbi research farm. Findings reveal that osmopriming achieves the highest germination percentage at 96 percent and the lowest mean germination time of 2.8 days, significantly improving field emergence uniformity. Hydropriming for 24 hours produces comparable results at lower cost. Hardening treatment shows the least improvement over unprimed control. The study concludes that osmopriming and extended hydropriming significantly improve maize establishment in Kebbi State conditions and recommends hydropriming for 24 hours as the most practical and affordable option for smallholder farmers.

Keywords: seed priming, maize germination, seedling vigour, Kebbi State, crop establishment.