Seed priming in wheat, barley, sorghum, pearl and finger millet in South Asia and Africa. Validated RNRRS Output.
Abstract
This is one of 280 summaries describing key outputs from the projects run by DFID's 10-year Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) programmes.
Summary for Project titles: R6395: The Development and Testing of Seed-Priming to Improve Stand Establishment, Early Growth and yield in Semi-Arid Zimbabwe and India and R7438: Participatory promotion of \"on farm\" seed priming.
On-farm seed priming is a simple, proven technology that has been developed, tested, and refined in laboratories, in experimental plots, and by farmers themselves in their fields. It's easy to use with a wide range of crops in many different farming conditions. Farmers in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Botswana and Zimbabwe now prime wheat, barley, sorghum, pearl and finger millet seed before sowing. This simple method is now spreading to other countries, such as to Saudi Arabia. Although priming with water alone makes a huge difference, the method is being explored further in Pakistan. Here, the effects of adding tiny amounts of phosphorus, boron and zinc to the priming water are now being explored.
The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Current Promotion, Impacts On Poverty, Environmental Impact, Annex. Attached PDF (12 pp.) taken from the CD.
Citation
PSP27, New technologies, new processes, new policies: tried-and-tested and ready-to-use results from DFID-funded research, Research Into Use Programme, Aylesford, Kent, UK, ISBN 978-0-9552595-6-2, p 26.