In order to study the effect of on-farm seed priming using tap water and zinc sulfate solution with 0.03% zinc on yield and yield components of two intermediate maturing maize cultivars, a factorial experiment was carried out in complete randomized block design with three replications in Research Farm of Bu Ali University, Hamedan, Iran in 2011. Seed priming consisted of three levels (priming with 0.03% zinc using zinc sulfate for 16 hours, priming with tap water for 18 hours and control (no priming)) which were applied on two maize cultivars (Single cross 580 and 600). Results indicated that on-farm seed priming increased grain number per row and the number of rows per corn cob. Priming with zinc sulfate solution significantly increased seed weight, seed yield, biological yield and harvest index. Grain yield, biological yield and harvest index in priming with zinc sulfate solution increased by 11, 12.95 and 17 percent respectively in comparison with no primed treatment. Among the two studied cultivars, Single cross 600 with greater response to priming treatments had the highest grain number while Single cross 580 out performed the other cultivar in terms of seed weight. Therefore, seed priming with zinc sulfate at planting time seems effective to improve the growth and yield of Single cross 600.

Keywords: On-farm seed priming, Zinc sulfate, Yield, Corn

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