Effects of Seed Priming on Growth and Yield of Chickpea Under Saline Soil

Abstract

The present study was performed in order to assess influence of priming types and times on growth and development of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) in a saline soil. The seeds of Landrace Cultivar soaked by three treatment, NaCl (halopriming), Water (hydropriming), and Mannitol (osmopriming) for 8, 16, and 24 hours. Treated seeds had sown in agricultural research station (with salinity of 2.68 ds/m) of University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran in 2007. Total dry matter accumulation between halo and hydro priming treatments had no differences until 80 days after sowing and the highest dry matter obtained from halo priming (increased with 37.9% and 16.7%, respectively relative to osmo and hydro priming). A similar Trend was observed for Leaf dry matter. Maximum leaf area (1489.7 cm²) obtained from halo priming at 94 days after sowing. Results showed an increase of 63.6% and 44.7% in yield of halo priming compared to osmo priming and hydro priming, respectively.