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Prospects of improving maize yields with 'on-farm' seed priming

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Kathmandu (Nepal) NARC|CIMMYT : 2002Description: P. 180-185ISBN:
  • 99933-205-1-X
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 631.536 RAJ
Summary: Poor crop establishment is a major problem in many areas of the world, particularly for subsistence farmers in rainfed and poorly-irrigated environments. 'On-farm' seed priming (OFSP) has been shown to lead to earlier germination and establishment, and increased yields, in a wide range of crops in many tropical and sub-tropical environments. This paper describes laboratory studies, on-station and farmer- participatory trials to assess the effects of priming on maize yields in Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Priming seed with water for 12 hours reduced the in vitro time to germination in 17 of 18 varieties. Priming for 16-18 h in Pakistan gave statistically significant benefits in 11 out of 14 trials, in a range of environments over several years, with yield increases from 17 to 76%. In Zimbabwe, grain yield increase was 14% in each of two years with very different rainfall patterns. Farmers reported that primed seed emerged earlier, grew and matured faster, producing larger cobs. There was no adverse effect of priming in either Pakistan or Zimbabwe, and the technique is recommended as a key technology -a low-cost, low-risk intervention to make a significant impact on maize production in a wide range of environments.
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Book CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library CIMMYT Publications Collection 631.536 RAJ (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available Y631641
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Poor crop establishment is a major problem in many areas of the world, particularly for subsistence farmers in rainfed and poorly-irrigated environments. 'On-farm' seed priming (OFSP) has been shown to lead to earlier germination and establishment, and increased yields, in a wide range of crops in many tropical and sub-tropical environments. This paper describes laboratory studies, on-station and farmer- participatory trials to assess the effects of priming on maize yields in Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Priming seed with water for 12 hours reduced the in vitro time to germination in 17 of 18 varieties. Priming for 16-18 h in Pakistan gave statistically significant benefits in 11 out of 14 trials, in a range of environments over several years, with yield increases from 17 to 76%. In Zimbabwe, grain yield increase was 14% in each of two years with very different rainfall patterns. Farmers reported that primed seed emerged earlier, grew and matured faster, producing larger cobs. There was no adverse effect of priming in either Pakistan or Zimbabwe, and the technique is recommended as a key technology -a low-cost, low-risk intervention to make a significant impact on maize production in a wide range of environments.

English

0304|AGRIS 0201|AL-Maize Program|R01PROCE

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection


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