Growth, yield and water productivity of rice as influenced by seed priming under alternate wetting and drying irrigation

Seed priming is a vital seed enhancement tool used for mitigating various biotic and abiotic stresses, improving seedling growth and enhancing crop productivity. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD), a water-saving technique, reduces irrigation water input in rice production without compromising yield. A factorial experiment consisting of seven priming treatments (non-primed control, hydropriming, Trichoderma, silicon dioxide, salicylic acid, potassium nitrate, abscisic acid) and three soil water potential levels maintained through AWD irrigation (0, -15, -30 kPa) was conducted to explore potential benefits of seed priming in mitigating water-deficit stress. Grain yield was not significantly different between 0 and -15 kPa regardless of priming treatments. However, it was reduced at -30 kPa under all treatments, except for Trichoderma. Seed priming with Trichoderma resulted in 52%, 68% and 77% higher grain yield and 52%, 70% and 66% higher water productivity at 0, -15 and -30 kPa, respectively, than the control. Rice can be safely grown with AWD irrigation level up to -15 kPa. However, seed priming with Trichoderma is recommended where frequent irrigation is difficult to practice and soil water potential drops below -15 kPa. Seed priming with potassium nitrate is also a promising option when soil water potential drops below -15 kPa.

Automated summary

Seed priming is an important tool for enhancing seeds and mitigating water-deficit stress. Trichoderma treatment shows significant yield increase under different soil water potential levels.