Research Article
OGBUEHI H C, MADUKWE D.K & ASH
Abstract
Field experiment was conducted in 2012 at Teaching and Research Farm of faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri to assess the effect of hydro priming duration on performance of morphological indices of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdc). The experiment was based in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatment levels and four replications. The treatments are 12hours, 24hours, 36hours, 48hours and 0hours which served as control (untreated seeds). Result indicated that all studied traits such as percentage emergence, plant heights, leaf area, leafareaindex, were significantly affected at 5% probability level. The 24 hours duration gave the highest percentage emergence (61.8%), leaf area (130.910cm2), plant height (25.675cm), number of leaves (81.76). Control gave the highest leaf area index (0.126) while the 12hours produced the highest net assimilation rate (0.0088mgcm2). In conclusion, 24hours hydro priming duration improved the performance of growth indices measured whereas the 36 hours was the least effective. Therefore, the results suggest that hydro priming is a useful method of improving seedling emergence, stand establishment and yield of bambara groundnut in the field hence should be recommended for poor farmers who are in engaged in production of bambaragroundnut.