Effect of Seed Hydropriming and Fertilizer Levels on Buckwheat Yield and Profitability

Nitrogen, along with other nutrients, is a universally restrictive component in soil and is crucial for the productivity of buckwheat. Likewise, seed hydropriming is an easy and economical technique that results in quicker and more uniform plant stands. The experiment consisted of five treatments combining two priming durations (18 and 36 h) with two fertilizer levels (20:20:10 and 40:30:20 kg·NPK·ha −1 ), plus a control arranged in a two‐factor factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Significantly higher plant heights of 26.35, 92.62, and 96.98 cm were observed in 18‐h primed seeds at 30, 60, and 90 days after sowing (DAS), respectively. Early flowering (36 DAS) occurred in 18‐h primed seeds. Priming durations and fertilizer levels did not significantly influence the number of branches, seeds per cluster, or test weight at harvest. However, fertilizer levels and their interaction significantly influenced the number of clusters per plant, with the highest (39) with 40:30:20 NPK. Both main and interaction effects had a highly significant influence on all yield traits. The highest biological and grain yields were recorded from 18 h of priming with 40:30:20 NPK and were found to be 11.35 and 2.70 t·ha −1 , respectively. Similarly, a significant effect of priming was observed on the harvest index. 18‐h priming significantly increased the net return (Rs. 157,425 ha −1 ) and benefit–cost ratio (B:C) (2.07), surpassing both unprimed (1.24) and 36 h primed seeds (1.36). Similarly, the highest net return of Rs. 156,300 ha −1 and B:C ratio of 2.05 was achieved with the application of 40:30:20 kg·NPK·ha −1 . Seed hydropriming combined with optimal fertilizer application appears to significantly enhance the yield and profitability of buckwheat.