The Effect of Priming with Vermicompost on the Germination and Emergence Performance of Green Onion (Allium cepa) and Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Seeds

Authors : Elif Çatıkkaş
Pages : 30-40
Doi:10.53803/turvehab.1678692
View : 81 | Download : 37
Publication Date : 2025-06-15
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :This study aimed to evaluate the effects of vermicompost (VC) priming at various concentrations on emergence rate and percentage, and seedling quality parameters in green onion (Allium cepa) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) seeds. Seeds used as experimental material were subjected to priming treatments in vermicompost solutions prepared at concentrations of 0%, 2%, 5%, 10%, and 20%, and incubated for 18 hours at 20°C under dark conditions. Following priming, seedlings were cultivated in a climate-controlled chamber at 23°C for 20 days. Subsequently, shoot fresh and dry weights, root fresh and dry weights, and emergence percentages were recorded. Seeds that received no treatment (C1) and seeds subjected to hydropriming with distilled water (C2) served as control groups. In green onion, the highest emergence percentage (92%) was achieved with the 5% VC (VC2) treatment, whereas in spinach, the highest emergence percentage (94%) was obtained from the 10% VC (VC3) treatment. Additionally, VC2 resulted in the highest shoot fresh weight (68.2 mg), shoot dry weight (6.16 mg), root fresh weight (10.26 mg), and root dry weight (4.97 mg) in green onion seedlings. Similarly, in spinach seedlings, the highest shoot fresh weight (352.3 mg), shoot dry weight (27.87 mg), root fresh weight (19.45 mg), and root dry weight (7.30 mg) were recorded in the VC3 (10% VC) treatment. Overall, the findings demonstrated that vermicompost priming significantly (P<0.05) enhanced seed germination and seedling development parameters compared to the control treatments. Moreover, vermicompost priming was found to substantially and positively influence germination, emergence rate, and seedling quality traits in both green onion and spinach.
Keywords : Tohum çimlenmesi, fide çıkışı, priming uygulaması, vermikompost, ıspanak, yeşil soğan

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