Seed Priming-mediated Enhancement of Nutrient Uptake in Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) under Rainfed Conditions

Abstract

Green gram (moong) is a short-duration, protein-rich pulse crop widely grown in India, valued for nutrition and its ability to fix nitrogen, improving soil fertility in sustainable farming systems. Despite its importance, productivity remains low due to rainfed cultivation and moisture stress, leading to a significant gap between pulse demand and actual consumption in India. The present investigation was conducted during Kharif 2020-21 at the Regional Research Station, Bawal, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, to evaluate the effect of different seed priming treatments on nutrient uptake and productivity of green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] under rainfed conditions. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications comprising nine treatments. Seed priming treatments included hydropriming and osmopriming using KNO₃, KH₂PO₄ and CaCl₂ solutions at 2% concentration for 4 and 8 hours followed by 2 hours sun drying along with an unprimed control. The results revealed that seed priming significantly influenced growth, yield and nutrient uptake of green gram under rainfed conditions. Among all the treatments, osmopriming with KH₂PO₄ @ 2% for 8 hours followed by 2 hours sun drying proved superior over the remaining treatments. Although nutrient concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in seed and straw was not significantly affected by different priming treatments, total nutrient uptake was significantly enhanced due to increased biomass production and improved crop performance. The maximum total uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in seed and straw was recorded under KH₂PO₄ @ 2% priming for 8 hours, registering values of 83.18, 10.77 and 83.87 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. Priming treatments of longer duration (8 hours) performed better than 4 hours priming treatments irrespective of priming agents. The beneficial effects of seed priming may be attributed to enhanced germination, better seedling establishment, improved root growth and efficient utilization of soil moisture and nutrients under rainfed situations. Therefore, osmopriming with KH₂PO₄ @ 2% for 8 hours followed by sun drying can be considered an effective, economical and sustainable approach for improving nutrient uptake and productivity of green gram under rainfed agro-climatic conditions.