Effect of seed priming with boron and its foliar application on okra productivity
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Date
2022-10-31
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Palampur
Abstract
Boron (B), the second most deficient micronutrient worldwide (next to zinc) severely
impacts the sustainability goals of food and nutritional security. Okra is a crop with high
export potential and diverse benefits, however, poor seed germination; a major constraint
causes significant yield reduction. Okra grown on B-deficient acid soils of Himachal
Pradesh aggravate this problem and reduce productivity. An investigation was carried out
during Kharif, 2021 to evaluate the impact of seed priming with B and its foliar
application on germination and productivity of okra (cv. Palam Komal). A laboratory
study was conducted in Completely Randomized Design with seed primed using varied B
concentrations (1.0, 0.5, 0.1, 0.05, and 0.01%), distilled water (hydropriming) and
durations (12, 24, and 36 h), with one control (unprimed seeds), to figure out the best
three B priming concentrations and two priming durations based on their germination
percentage to evaluate their performance under field conditions. The highest germination
percentage (96.7%) was registered from seeds primed with B @ 0.05% for 24 h, followed
by the treatment comprising of seed primed with B @ 0.05% for 36 h (93.3%). Based on
laboratory experimentation results, B primed seeds (0.1%, 0.05%, 0.01%) and distilled
water, for 24 and 36 h were selected in conjugation with foliar application of B @
0.034% for field experimentation in Randomized Complete Block Design replicated
thrice at the Experimental Farm, Department of Soil Science, COA, CSK HPKV,
Palampur. The results affirmed that seed priming with B @ 0.05% for 24 h duration
paired with foliar application of B @ 0.034% significantly improved the germination
percentage, growth parameters and yield of okra. The impact of B application was non significant on soil pH and EC. Seed priming with B @ 0.05% for 24 h and foliar
application of B @ 0.034% enhanced the uptake of N, P, K and micronutrient cations.
Therefore, it can be concluded that seed priming is an effective alternative to alleviate the
germination problem but needs to be supplemented with foliar application for getting
higher yield of okra in acid soils of Himachal Pradesh.