The effect of planting depth and seed priming on emergence and early seedling growth parameters of lentil (lens culinaris L.)

The reasons for the low lentil yield in Iran can be mentioned to low quality of seedling, low capacity germination, emergence and poor seedling establishment. Thus, priming and seed planting depth are important methods of empowerment of seed. This experiment as a factorial in randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in outdoor greenhouse of Gonbad Kavous University (Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources) in February 2015. The treatments were included priming with 4 levels (control, hydropriming, GA 50 ppm, GA 100 ppm) and 15 different planting depths (from zero to 14 cm). The results showed the effects of hydropriming and different planting depths were significant, meanwhile interaction effects were not observed significantly on the traits. Mean comparison showed that the highest plumule length, germination rate and percentage were obtained from GA treatment with concentration of 100 ppm. The highest dry weight plumule, leaflet, seedling and leaf area were observed in GA treatment with concentration of 50 ppm. Relationship rate and emergence percent were negative line with planting depth, thus with increasing of planting depth were caused rate and emergence percent decreased by 0.0016 seed per hours and 4.01 percentage, respectively. Moreover the regression relationship between seedling growth parameters with planting depth was quadratic function that be proved variable percentage between 81 to 87 percentage in studied characteristics. Totally the optimal sowing depth was 3-2.5 cm in lentil.