Effect of Azospirillum zeae and Seed Priming with Zinc, Manganese and Auxin on Growth and Yield Parameters of Wheat, under Dryland Farming

Abstract

In this study, field experiments with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were conducted consecutively for 2 years. The main objective was to determine (1) effect of seed priming with auxin (IAA), zinc (Zn) or manganese (Mn) on growth and yield parameters of wheat under dry land farming; (2) influence of on-farm priming with Azospirillum under field conditions. In this study, the response of dryland wheat yield to soaking seeds in water, 2 ppm IAA, 0.2% Mn solution and 0.2% aqueous solution of Zn with or without Azospirillum zeae inoculation was investigated under field condition. Total grain yield was significantly enhanced for water primed seeds i.e., 1273 kg ha−1 (6.8%) or seeds primed with IAA, as compared to 1191 kg ha−1 in plants from non-primed seeds. Difference in grain yield between priming with water and 2 ppm IAA was not significant when compared with 1372 kg ha−1 (15%) for seeds primed with 0.2% Mn solution and 1440 kg ha−1 (20%) for seeds primed with 0.2% Zn solution. Grain yield was significantly increased for plants inoculated with Azospirillum, 1411 kg ha−1 (8%) as compared to 1191 t ha−1 for non-Azospirillum-inoculated seeds. Yield parameters, i.e., tiller no. per m−2, grain number per spike, and 1000-grain weight, were all significantly affected by priming treatments and Azospirillum inoculation. Grains with the high nitrogen and phosphorous content were recorded for the treatment where seeds were primed with Zn and inoculated with Azospirillum. In the present study, inoculation of wheat seeds followed by priming is a significant approach to enhance grain yield and grain nutrients (N and P) content.