Effects of Growth Enhancers on the Germination and Seedling Vigor of Sweet Corn (Zea mays l. var. Saccharata)

Abstract

This study examined the effects of different growth enhancers—Moringa oleifera, wood vinegar, lactic acid bacteria, and coconut water—on the germination and seedling vigor of sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata). The experiment used a randomized complete block design with four blocks and five plots per block. Soil sampling, germination, seedling vigor, and nutrient absorption tests were conducted, with germination assessed after 12 days and seedling vigor measured by root and shoot lengths 20 days after germination. Nutrient absorption of phosphorus and potassium was analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Data were statistically analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results revealed that wood vinegar had the highest mean germination percent of 85.97, followed by the control group (84.8%), while lactic acid bacteria showed the least germination. In terms of seedling vigor, Moringa oleifera exhibited the greatest root length of 12.04cm, while wood vinegar resulted in the shortest root length of 8.84cm. Coconut water was found to have the longest shoot length of 40.23cm. However, statistical analysis showed no significant differences in root or shoot lengths across treatments, suggesting that the priming treatments had similar effects on seedling vigor.