Effects of Hydro- and Chemical Seed Priming on Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Fodder Maize

Abstract

Seed priming is a beneficial method used to improve seed germination, plant growth, and enhancing nutrient absorption in crops. The current study was conducted during the spring session of 2025 at the experimental research area of the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University (PMAS-AAUR) Rawalpindi, (Punjab, Pakistan), to assess the effect of various seed priming treatments on the growth, physiological attributes, biomass yield and nutrient utilization in maize. The experiment was conducted using a CRD (Completely Randomized Design) with seven treatments and four replications. The detail of experiment treatments are as follow: control (T1), hydropriming for 6 h (T2), hydropriming for 12 h (T3), calcium chloride (CaCl₂) priming for 6 h (T4), CaCl₂ priming for 12 h (T5), potassium nitrate (KNO₃) priming for 6 h (T6), and KNO₃ priming for 12 h (T7). Data were recorded for growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and leaf area index), biomass parameters (shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, and root dry weight), physiological traits (chlorophyll content), and nutrient uptake (N, P, K, and Ca). The results showed that seed priming significantly improved plant growth and physiological performance compared with the control treatment. Among all treatments, CaCl₂ priming for 6 hours (T4) produced the best results for most of the studied parameters. Maximum plant height (248 cm) was recorded under KNO₃ (12 h), while CaCl₂ (6 h) showed overall superior performance across most parameters with 18–19 leaves per plant, while the control treatment recorded only 155 cm height and 9 leaves per plant. Leaf area and leaf area index also increased significantly under priming treatments, reaching 850 cm² and 4.8, respectively. Biomass accumulation was highest in CaCl₂ priming (6 h), where shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, and root dry weight reached 380 g plant⁻¹, 98.4 g plant⁻¹, 75.2 g plant⁻¹, and 22.5 g plant⁻¹, respectively. Chlorophyll content was also enhanced, with the highest value of 54 SPAD recorded in CaCl₂ priming for 6 hours. Nutrient uptake was markedly improved in primed plants, with maximum nitrogen (4200 mg plant⁻¹), phosphorus (650 mg plant⁻¹), potassium (2850 mg plant⁻¹), and calcium uptake (1250 mg plant⁻¹) observed under CaCl₂ priming. The overall biomass production, physiological and nutrient uptake parameters in maize. The study revealed that seed priming keywords used are seed priming, maize, calcium chloride, potassium nitrate, with CaCl₂ for 6 hours had a biomass production, chlorophyll content, nutrient uptake.