Promoting field emergence of Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) seeds through dormancy alleviation

Abstract

Studies were carried to find out the effect of pre-sowing seed treatments to alleviate the dormancy of Palmyrah. A total of ten pre- sowing treatments viz., soaking in water for 24 h, soaking in 1% cow dung solution for 24 h and control (dry seeds) were given to fresh nuts of Palmyrah. At 4, 7, 12, 18 and 24 months after planting in the field, performance of seedlings were evaluated for field emergence, seedling height and the results revealed that seeds soaked in 1% cow dung solution followed by seeds soaked in 1% CaOCl2 (103 days). Seven months after sowing the seeds soaked in 1% CaOcl2 recorded the highest field emergence of 56% with high leave production per seedling (2.1) when compared to control. This study also confirms the effect of pre-sowing treatments on field emergence and frond production of Palmyrah nut which has dormancy.