Effect of Seed Priming with Micro-Nutrients, Botanicals on Seedling Characteristics of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Var. Paiyur 2

The experiment was conducted in Seed Testing Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.) during kharif season 2019-2021, so as to standardize the acceptable seed treatments for sorghum (Paiyur-2).Different seed priming treatments were taken into the study viz., were evaluated T1 – Zinc Sulphate @ 0.5% up to 3hours, T2 – Zinc Sulfate@1% at 4 hours, T3 – Zinc Sulfate@1.5% at 6 hours, T4 – Thiourea @ 0.5% at 3 hours, T5 – Thiourea @ 1% at 4 hours, T6 – Thiourea @ 1.5% at 6 hours, T7 – KNO3@ 0.5% at 3 hours, T8 – KNO3 @ 1% at 4 hours, T9 – KNO3 @ 1.5% at 6 hours, T10 – Moringa Leaf extract @ 3% at 8 hours, T11 – Neem leaf extract @ 3% at 8 hours, T12 – Thiourea @0.5% with Zinc Sulphate(ZnSo4) @ 0.5% at 6 hours. During this study it had been found that maximum germination percent, seedling length and vigour attributes was observed when seed treated with T10- Moringa leaf extract @ 3% followed by T9 – KNO3 @ 1.5% and minimum observed in Control (Untreated seed). Seed treatment with Moringa leaf extract @ 3% enhances germination on seedling characters and it is a simple method and no requirement for expensive equipment and chemical might be used for overcoming challenges associated with a poor germination and seedling establishment.