Effect of seed priming on rate of seedling emergence, establishment and yield of four bambara groundnut (Vigna SubterraNeaL. Verdc.) Landraces
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Date
2012-09
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Abstract
The overall yield of any crop largely depends on high rate of seed emergence, adequate
seedling establishment and growth and development. Bambara groundnut is a food
security crop in the semi-arid savannas in Africa, providing human nutrition and health
in subsistent households, yet, remains an underutilized legume species with little
research intervention. This study assessed the effect of seed priming of four field-grown
bambara groundnut landraces on seedling emergence, growth and grain yield at Wa and
Kumasi in 2011 cropping season in the Guinea savannah and forest agro-ecological
zones of Ghana respectively. There were marked site-specific significant differences
(p≤0.05) among the traits assessed. Priming bambara groundnut seed in water for 24 h
before sowing significantly enhanced final emergence, seedling establishment, growth
and yield compared to the control (0hour prime). Furthermore, the primed Bambara
groundnut genotypes flowered much earlier and produced greater dry matter, pod and
grain yield at Wa than at Kumasi. The interactive effect of the landraces and the priming
also revealed increased plant growth and grain yield in Kumasi than at Wa. This study
offers useful information to improve bambara groundnut seed germination, plant stand
and grain yield in the Guinea Savanna agro- ecological zone with more stressful
environmental conditions. Finally, all the yield parameters were improved following
seed priming, and 24 hours of soaking seeds in water is recommended since it appeared
to be the best in most yield parameters.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Crop and Soil
Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture,
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, In
Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the award of the Degree of Master Of Science In (Agronomy),