Evaluating the effect of seed priming on growth and yield of two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars in direct seeding method

This study aimed to determine the role of seed priming on different methods of rice cultivation was performed. A factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted at the experimental field of Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII), Rasht, Iran, duringtwo years (2013 and 2014). The experimental factors were included two rice varieties (KhazarandHashemi) and ten cultivation methods (eight priming, combined with seed tape technology plus two treatments, linear direct seeding and transplanting). The measured characteristics were including characteristics of seeds and seedlings in the lab and other phenological and morphological characteristics. Also, the descriptions of the three planting methods were discussed (direct seeding with seed tap technology, linear direct seeding and transplanting). The combined analysis of variance showed that seed priming had significant effects on seed and seedling traits. Most of seedling establishment in the field was related to dry seed treatment. There was no significant seed priming effect on yield, while there was significant impacts of cultivar, the interaction between cultivar and priming on yield. Most grain yield was, Khazar cultivar of transplantation treat, and in Hashem cultivar was in seed priming treat with calcium chloride. results showed that the direct seeding using seed tap technology, declined by 11 percent during the growing season, 32% of the number of workers, the experiment was better than transplanting method. The overall result of this experiment showed that direct seeding with seed tap technology can be 12 percent reduced in rice production cost.