Enhancement of Germination and Crop Performance with the Help of Seed Priming

The present study evaluates the effectiveness of natural seed priming agents-banana peel water, onion extract, aloe vera water, cow urine, and normal water-on the germination and early seedling vigor of five Indian wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties: Malavraj HI 8737, Shree Ram Super 303, Pusa Purna 1544, HD 3385, and Lokwan.The objective was to explore eco-friendly, low-cost alternatives to synthetic seed treatments to enhance seed performance and support sustainable agricultural practices.Seeds from each variety were soaked for 8 hours in the respective priming solutions, air-dried, and placed in Petri dishes lined with moist tissue paper.Germination parameters-including germination percentage, speed, root and shoot length, and seedling vigor index-were recorded daily over a 10-day period under controlled conditions.Significant differences were observed across treatments and varieties.Results revealed that Pusa Purna 1544 and Lokwan responded most favorably, particularly under banana peel water, onion extract, and aloe vera treatments, which led to early germination and higher seedling vigor.Malavraj HI 8737 showed the least responsiveness, especially under cow urine and control treatments.Among the treatments, banana peel water was the most effective, followed by aloe vera water, onion extract, normal water, and cow urine.In conclusion, natural priming agents such as banana peel water, aloe vera water, and onion extract significantly enhance germination and early growth in certain wheat varieties.These treatments present viable, sustainable alternatives for smallholder and organic farmers.Further field-level studies are necessary to validate these findings across diverse agro-climatic zones.