1061
Nutrient seed priming improves seedling development of maize exposed to low root zone temperatures during early growth
Original research article
Field experiment
Corn
Iron
Manganese
Zinc
Abstract
Highlights:
- Nutrient seed priming improves early seedling development and root growth of maize exposed to low root zone temperatures.
- Low soil or root zone temperature (RZT) is a major problem for maize growth in Central and Northern Europe.
- In maize, low RZT severely inhibits the early seedling establishment, root growth and nutrient uptake.
- Micronutrient seed priming significantly improved early seedling development and nutrient uptake under low RZT.
- Although nutrient priming increased grain yield but the mechanisms behind require further research.
Keywords
maize; corn; micronutrient seed priming; low root zone temperature; seedling development; root growth; nutrient uptake; grain yield
Outcomes reported
Biomass
Plant growth
Nutrient uptake
Root traits
Yield
Synthesis
Key insight
Micronutrient seed priming improved early maize biomass, root length, and shoot nutrient contents under low root-zone temperature, with early field growth benefits also detected.
Limitations
The study combined controlled-environment work with limited field confirmation and did not report detailed field-soil characteristics in the extracted text.
