Effect of Priming on the Phenology, Growth, and Yield of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdcourt)

Abstract

The Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) is a neglected crop species' third most important legume. It is cultivated for its numerous benefits. However, in the current context of decreasing rainfall, seed germination is often slow or even absent, leading to low yields. This study aims to evaluate the effect of seed priming on the phenological, growth, yield parameters, and yield components of Bambara groundnut cultivars under real field conditions during the 2023 rainy season. The experiment was conducted at the experimental station of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey (Niger). The experimental design used was a factorial randomized block design with three replications. Three treatments were compared: (i) soaking seeds in tap water for 12 hours, (ii) soaking seeds in tap water for 24 hours, and (iii) a control group without soaking. The results showed a significant difference between treatments for the time to emergence (P = 0.016), flowering (P = 0.001), and the date of 50% flowering (P = 0.0013). No significant differences were observed among cultivars for these parameters. Priming did not considerably affect LAI (leaf area index) across cultivars and treatments. Regarding yield and yield components, soaking for 24 hours resulted in significantly higher values, except for dry biomass yield.