Effect of water priming on the seed moisture content and the rooting of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] ‘Fukuyutaka’ seeds under non-irrigated conditions

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the effect of water priming on the seed moisture and the rooting rate of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] ‘Fukuyutaka’ for developing a cultivation method, where soybean seeds can directly be sown on the meadow or grassland for livestock production. The weight of each soybean seed was measured before and after they were subjected to: no treatment (control); and, two kinds of priming treatments, soaking (2 and 4 h), and moisture absorption (3, 12, and 24 h). The weight of seeds was additionally measured after keeping them at a specified temperature (28–30°C) and humidity (58–60%) for 4 h, 1, 2, and 3 days. The moisture content of soybean seeds was calculated based on their weights pre- and post-treatment. The rooting rate of the seeds was investigated after each priming (control, soaking, and moisture absorption), 48 h of standing and irrigation treatment. The seed moisture content of soybean seeds increased immediately after priming (soaking or moisture absorption treatment), however, after standing, the moisture content in both treatments deceased to the same level as that of control. The rooting rate in both priming pre-treatments was similar to or lower than that in control, indicating that neither soaking nor moisture absorption of soybean seeds had a keeping moisture content of seeds for long time which promoting effect on rooting of soybean under dry condition on meadow or grassland