Healthy and uniform seed of lentil cv. IPL 316 were subjected to nine seed priming treatments viz., Trichoderma harzianum @ 1.5%, (Vitavexpower @ 0.25%,) L Gibberellic acid @ 50ppm, Gibberellic acid @ 50ppm + Trichoderma harzianum @ 15 g/kg seed, Sodium Molybdate @ 500ppm, Sodium Molybdate @ 500ppm + Trichoderma harzianum @ 15 g/kg seed, leaf extract of Lantana camara @ 10%, Seed hydration for 8 h, Bavistin @ 3 g/kg seed. Primed seeds along with control were incubated in BOD at 21+1oC under laboratory condition and rest were broadcasted properly in standing crop of rice cv. BPT 5204 ten days before its harvest in order to study their suitability/possibility for improving the seed germination, crop establishment, nodulation and seed yield of lentil under utera/paira system of cultivation or relay cropping of rice. The primed seeds exhibited faster rate of germination, more uniform emergence, higher nodulation, greater tolerance to environmental stresses, increased yield components and thus finally enhanced the seed yield. The highest root and shoot length, and vigour index were recorded at seed primed with GA3 @ 50ppm + seed coated with Trichoderma harzianum @ 15 g/kg seed whereas the maximum root nodulation was observed at seed primed with Sodium Molybdate @ 500ppm + seed coated with Trichoderma harzianum @ 15g/kg seed. Similarly, the highest and or at par seed yield was observed at above treatments. These seed priming treatments if exploited in lentil and or other suitable pulses under Utera condition/relay cropping with rice could play a prime role for boosting up soil fertility, crop establishment, productivity and sustainability even through horizontal approach.
Crop establishment, Germination, Lens culinaris, Nodulation, Seed priming, Yield
