International Journal of Technology and Applied Science
E-ISSN: 2230-9004
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Volume 17 Issue 7
July 2026
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Enhancing rice productivity through seed priming with gibberellic acid and zinc for direct seeding: Insights from Dakawa and Kyela, Tanzania
| Author(s) | Mr. Mbaraka Abbakari Batare, Prof. Danstun Gabriel Msuya |
|---|---|
| Country | Tanzania |
| Abstract | Low rice productivity in sub-Saharan Africa is frequently associated with poor crop establishment, a challenge that is amplified under direct-seeded systems, where uneven emergence leads to suboptimal plant stands and reduced yield formation. Seed priming is a simple pre-sowing technique that can enhance early establishment and improve yield performance under farmer-relevant conditions. This study evaluated the effects of seed priming with gibberellic acid (GA₃), zinc (Zn), and their combination (GA₃+Zn) on grain yield and yield-related traits of direct-seeded rice under field conditions at two sites in Tanzania (Dakawa and Kyela). Five rice cultivars were assessed across five priming treatments in a factorial RCBD. Data were collected on phenology, growth, panicle traits, grain characteristics, and grain yield. Analysis of variance indicated significant (p < 0.05) effects of priming treatment on most agronomic traits at both sites. At Dakawa, GA+Zn priming produced the highest mean grain yield (6.3 t ha⁻¹) while GA and Zn priming also significantly outperformed the non-primed control (4.9 t ha⁻¹). At Kyela, Zn priming produced the highest mean yield (6.4 t ha⁻¹). Cultivar × priming interactions were generally non-significant for yield, suggesting broad applicability of priming across genotypes. The findings demonstrate that seed priming, particularly Zn-based and GA+Zn priming, can substantially improve grain yield and key developmental traits in direct-seeded rice. These results support wider evaluation and scaling of seed priming alongside cultivar selection to strengthen direct-seeded rice productivity. |
| Keywords | Agronomic traits; Cultivars; Crop improvement; Seed priming; Stress resilience. |
| Field | Biology > Agriculture / Botany |
| Published In | Volume 17, Issue 7, July 2026 |
| Published On | 2026-07-13 |
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IJTAS DOI prefix is
10.71097/IJTAS
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