The influence of fertilizer-based seed priming treatments on emergence andseedling growth of Sorghum bicolor and Pennisetum glaucum in pot trials under greenhouse conditions

The effect of priming sorghum and pearl millet seeds with fertilizers was i nvestigated. Two experiments were conducted on M35-1 (sorghum) and ICMH 356 (pearl miller), and ICSV 745 (sorghum) and Barmer (pearl millet) seeds, re spectively. Treatments included nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium-based t reatments which showed that 7.5 g l(-1) of urea substantially enhanced the final germination percentage of seeds. The second experiment included 10 pr iming treatments with 7.5 g l(-1) urea mixed with other fertilizers. Result s indicated that soaking seeds for 3 days in urea + one of several fertiliz ers including N, P or K-based nutrient compositions or micro elements signi ficantly increased germination percentage and speed but did not affect seed ling growth at 15 or 60 days after sowing. It is concluded that seed primin g treatments with fertilizers may serve as an appropriate treatment for adv ancing germination of the species studied.