Effect of pre-sowing electric treatment on chickpea seed at a constant temperature

The chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seeds were exposed to the electric field at 270, 470, 670, 870 and 1070 V/cm for 15 min duration at a constant temperature (13°C). The effect of electric treatment on germination, seedling growth and water uptake was investigated. Electrically treated seeds have shown a delay in water absorption as compared to the control (unexposed); hence, there was an increase in mean germination time and transition time. Maximum delay was observed at 470 V/cm with 15 min exposure. Rate of water uptake was calculated experimentally. It increased at all field values. A new water uptake model was used to find water content absorbed by the seed at any instant as a function of the electric field at a constant temperature (13°C). Among the various treatments, 470 V/cm for 15 min yielded the peak performance (for root and shoot lengths).   Key words: Germination time, electric-treatment, water-uptake model, ferroelectric effect.