Abstract:
The present research was
conducted under laboratory conditions. The
purpose of research was to investigate the
potential of priming with press mud, peat
moss, sand, gunny bags, compost, farm yard
manure and moringa leaf extract (MLE) on
seedling growth and germination capacity of
maize seed. Untreated or non-primed seeds
were used as a control treatment. Priming
treatments improved germination capacity,
stand establishment and seedling vigor,
compared with control. Priming with
moringa leaf extract enhance germination
and seedling vigor of maize seed, compared
with the control and other seed primed
treatments. In moringa leaf extract primed
seeds, root and shoot growth was improved.
Overall, moringa leaf extract primed maize
seeds performed better than all other
treatments and it could be related by
seedling vigor enhancement and lowering
the mean germination time, due to
imbibition of higher quantity of water and
earlier enzymatic activity. The results
propose that moringa leaf extract priming
treatment had the potential to enhance
germination, stand establishment and early
growth of maize seeds.
