Pelleting or Priming Seed with Calcium Improves Groundnut Seedling Survival in Acid Soils

ABSTRACT A growth chamber experiment and a field experiment were conducted to investigate the effects of pelleting or priming groundnut seed with calcium (Ca), either as calcium sulfate (CaSO4), calcium chloride (CaCl2), calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2], calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or Calcimax on growth of groundnut seedlings in acid soils. In the growth chamber experiment, Ca-treated and non-treated groundnut seeds were planted in acid-washed sand and watered with a dilute nutrient solution of pH 4.0 or 5.5. In the field experiment, the seeds were planted in an acid sand clay loam of pH [potassium chloride (KCl)] 4.8. Generally, pelleting or priming the seed with a Ca compound significantly reduced seedling mortality. Also, pelleting groundnut seed with Ca enhanced plant growth. An additional effect of priming was earlier emergence. The most effective Ca compound was CaSO4 among the priming treatments, whereas CaCO3 was the most effective among the pelleting treatments to reduce seedling mortality.