Nutripriming with zinc sulphate and borax for early growth and seedling vigour in grain cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram with an objective to study the effect of nutripriming with ZnSO4 and borax on the early growth and seedling vigour and Zn and B content in grain cowpea. Nutripriming treatments had significant effect on germination parameters. Nutripriming with ZnSO4 either at 0.025 or 0.05 per cent recorded higher values for the germination parameters. These treatments recorded 19.68 and 18.51 per centage higher germination than control. Germination index was 1.4 times higher in seeds primed with ZnSO4 @ 0.025 and 0.05 per cent and also recorded higher values for mean daily germination and speed of germination. The highest co-efficient rate of germination and germination rate index was recorded by seed priming with ZnSO4 at 0.05 per cent and it was closely followed by ZnSO4 @ 0.025 per cent for 4 h. Nutripriming with ZnSO4 either @ 0.025 or 0.05 per cent recorded the lowest mean germination time and time to reach 50 per cent germination and also recorded higher Zn and B content. Vigour index also followed the same trend. Hence it can be concluded that nutripriming with ZnSO4 either at 0.025 or 0.05 per cent can be recommended for early seedling growth, seedling vigour and higher Zn and B content in grain cowpea.