Economic feasibility of carrot (Daucus carota L) production in response to different seed priming techniques under deficit irrigation

Abstract

The production and productivity of carrots can be significantly influenced by factors such as poor quality seed quality, lack of pre-sowing seed treatments, and improper irrigation management. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of various seed priming techniques on the early establishment, growth, and yield of carrot (Daucus carota L., Nantes variety) under different irrigation intervals in Gerado, South Wollo, Ethiopia. Four seed priming treatments (no priming, hydro priming with distilled water, halo priming with potassium nitrate, and hormonal priming with gibberellic acid) were combined with three irrigation intervals (4, 7, and 10 days). The experiment followed a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement, consisting of three replications. The main plots were assigned to the irrigation intervals, while the subplots were assigned to the seed priming techniques. The results showed that the interaction between priming techniques and irrigation intervals had a significant impact on yield parameters. Distilled water treatment under both the 7-day and 10-day irrigation intervals resulted in the highest marketable carrot root yields, reaching 33.73 tons per hectare and 30.63 tons per hectare, respectively. Furthermore, the combination of distilled water treatment and a 7-day irrigation interval showed the highest net benefit for carrot production (858,476.21 birr/15,579.42 USD). This treatment combination also demonstrated the highest marginal rate of return (4255.80 %), making it a recommended approach for economically viable carrot production in the study area and similar agro-ecological contexts.