EFFECTS OF SEED PRIMING AND NUMBER OF CUTTINGS ON GROWTH, YIELD COMPONENTS, AND SEED PRODUCTION OF LATE SOWN BERSEEM

A research experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during season 2017-2018. The research was carried out in randomized complete block design with three replications having two factors. Factor A was seed priming with different agents (non-primed seeds, 1% NaCl, 2% KNO3, PEG-6000, 1:30 MLE and 50ppm GA3) while factor B was stop cutting at different intervals ( no cut, 10th April, 20th April, 30th April and 10th May). Seed priming had significant effect on all parameters except harvest index. Highest emergence m-2 (214), less weeds m-2 (63), a greater number of branches plant-1 (5.7), fresh forage yield (42750 kg ha-I), dry fodder yield (4808kg ha-I), plant height (44.26 cm), biological yield (4991 kg ha-I), seed yield (556 kg ha-I) and 1000 seed weight (3.10 g) were recorded at seed priming with moringa leaves extract. Less number of days (144) to flowering was recorded with KNO3 seed priming. Similarly, a greater number of heads m-2 (2205), seeds head-I (49) were noticed with gibberellic acid priming. Stop cutting time also showed significant effect on most of parameters. Highest fresh forage yield (41043 kg ha-I), dry fodder yield (4348 kg ha-I) and Heads m-2 (2193) were recorded with stop cuttings at 20th April. Number of seeds head-I(54), 1000 seed weight (3.06 g) and seed yield (607kg ha-I) were highest in plots where cutting was stopped at 30th April. Highest data were recorded on plant height (51.55 cm), number of branches plant-I (6.3) and biological yield (4784 kg ha-I) in plots where no cut was given to crop. Less number of days (139) to flowering was recorded in control plots with no cutting. Highest harvest index (22.74 %) data were noted in plots where cutting was stopped at 10th May. It was concluded that priming berseem seeds with moringa leaves extracts and stop cutting at 20th and 30th April increased the yield components and seed yield of berseem and is therefore, recommended for obtaining better seed yield of berseem under the environmental conditions of Peshawar.