EFFECT OF PRIMING ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD ON MAIZE (ZEA MAYS)

ABSTRACT Seed hydro-priming is a quick and inexpensive method for increasing plant vigor in moisture-stressed locations. The goal of the study is to determine the ideal hydro-priming time for maize by examining the impact of hydropriming on the early vigor, yield, and yield component of maize. The Farz 34 maize variety was examined for early vigor, yield, and yield components at the Agricultural technology department Research farm, Imo state polytechnic Omuma. The experiment was laid out using randomized complete block design,(RCBD), with three replications. Prior to sowing, the seeds were soaked in water for 3,6 and 9 hours with unprimed seed as control. The results showed that seed hydropriming had a highly significant impact on the number of days to emergence, the days to flowering, the height of the plant, the number of days to tasselling, and the number of days to silking, while the stand count at emergence, the number of leaves per plant, and the number of days to maturity also had a significant effect. The number of ears per plant, ear length, stand count at harvest, seed weight per hundred seeds, and yield were not statistically significant. With respect to early days to emergence, stand count at emergence, early days to silking, stand count at harvest, 100 seed weight, and grain yield, the favorable effects of hydro-priming were strongest at a 9-hours soaking time. In general, the length of hydro-priming time markedly enhanced the performance of maize growth under moisture stress, particularly during the early growth stages.