Author(s):

N Punithavathi, A Sabir Ahamed and T Jayaraj

Abstract: In India, approximately 8.6 million hectares of agricultural land is affected by varying degrees of salt related problems. The problems of soil sodicity, salinity and of poor quality water are likely to increase in near future. Cereals contribute mainly to food production and growing grain crops on saline soils require adoption of different strategies for sustainable crop production. Based on the above view an experiment was undertaken at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sikkal, Nagapattinam District to study the Impact of seed priming cum foliar spray on yield of rice in alleviating salinity stress. The paddy varieties viz.,TNAU Rice TRY 3 and Improved White Ponni were primed with chemicals, biofertilizer, bio control agents as well as plant growth regulator viz., Seed priming with 1% mixture of CaSO₄+ZnSO₄+FeSO₄, Seed priming with 1% mixture of CaSO₄+ZnSO₄+FeSO₄ + GA₃ 20 ppm +Azophos 1.0%, Seed priming with 1% mixture of KCl + CaSO₄+ ZnSO₄+ FeSO₄ + GA₃ 20 ppm + Azophos 1.0% followed by foliar spray of 0.5% FeSO_4, 0.5% ZnSO_4, 2% DAP and 2% cowpea pulse sprout extract were given at active tillering and panicle initiation stage. Among the different combination of priming treatments tried, seeds treated with 1% mixture of KCl + CaSO₄+ ZnSO₄ + FeSO₄ + GA₃ 20 ppm + Azophos1% + Pseudomonas fluorescens 1% along with 2% cowpea pulse sprout extract spray under salinity condition effectively enhanced the overall efficiency of the crop and improved the yield in both tolerant and sensitive varieties of rice grown under salt stress condition.

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