Effect of on-farm seed priming and irrigation interval the on growth indices of two corn cultivars (Zea mays L.)

In order to study of effect of on-farm seed priming and irrigation interval on growth indices of two corn cultivars, an experiment was conducted at the research farm of agriculture faculty of Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan-Iran in 2011. The experiment was a split plot factorial based on completely randomized block design with three replications. Experimental factors were including irrigation, priming and cultivar that irrigation factor included 50, 100 and 150 mm evaporation of class A pan which considered as the main factor. Seed priming factor including priming with 0.03% zinc sulfate solution for 16 hours, priming with water for 18 hours and control (no primed) and two corn cultivars (580 and 600 single crosses) were considered as the sub plots. Results indicated that maximum of Crop Growth Rate, Leaf Area Index, Total Dry Matter and Net Assimilation Rate and Relative Growth Rate in 70 day after planting were affected by main factors (P < 0.01). Also interaction effect of irrigation and seed priming on all of the indices was significant (P < 0.05). Maximum value of Leaf Area Index (4.70), Crop Growth Rate (50.23 gr/m-2/day-1), total dry matter (1920 gr/m-2), Net Assimilation Rate (11.20 gr/m-2/day-1) and Relative Growth Rate (0.043 gr/gr-1/day-1) was observed in 50 mm evaporation treatment and minimum of these traits (2.84 and 27.85 gr/m-2/day-1, 1064 gr/m-2, 9.60 gr/m-2/day-1 and 0.028 gr/gr-1/day-1, respectively) were observed in the irrigation in 150 mm evaporation of class A pan. Priming with zinc sulfate solution increased maximum of Leaf Area Index, Crop Growth Rate, Total Dry Matter and also Net Assimilation Rate and Relative Growth Rate as 18, 25.83, 19.20, 9.25 and 14.28 percent, respectively in 70th day compared to no-primed treatment. Among cultivars, S.C 600 has superior growth indices compared to S.C 580 cultivar. Overall, it could be concluded that on-farm see priming can improve plant resistance to water deficit condition for better crop performance.