Effect of Seed Priming of Toria (Brassica napus L Var. Napus L.) on Drought Tolerance and its Yield Performance

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2010, 2011 and 2012 at the experimental farm of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture at Biswanath College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Biswanath Chariali to find out suitable pre-sowing treatment for drought tolerance and its effect on growth and yield of toria. Treatments consisted of 8 soaking medium viz. Water soaked (S₁), 0.1% KOH (S₂), Vermiwash (S₃), 1% KCl (S₄), 1% KH₂PO₄(S₅), 1% NaCl (S₆), Diathane M-45 (S₇) and Dry seed (S₈) as control in a randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications. Required quantities of seeds were soaked in respective chemical solutions for 10 hours followed by drying in shade to almost its original weight. From the pooled data of three years, it was found that growth and yield attributes showed significant differences due to various priming treatments. The highest grain yield of 9.10 q/ha was obtained with 1% KH₂PO₄ treated seed which was 27.84% higher over dry sowing. This was closely followed by 8.72 q/ha with 0.1% KOH and 8.48 q/ha with 1% NaCl. It was also observed that the growth and yield attributes viz., plant population, plant height and number of siliqua/plant differed significantly highest being in 1% KH₂PO_4. The pooled data recorded the highest test weight (2.92g) and rain water use efficiency (59.52 kg/ha/mm) under 1% KH₂PO₄ treated seed. The highest net return and B:C ratio were also recorded in 1% KH₂PO₅ with the values 8067/ha and 1.58, respectively.