Effect of rice seed treatment with nutrient solution on yield under different soil fertility conditions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

2 Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Guilan, Iran

3 Soil and Water Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.

4 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

10.22059/ijswr.2025.397748.669967

Abstract

The integration of soil-test-based nutrient management with seed treatment using nutrient solution can help reduce yield gaps in rice cultivation. This study was carried out during the 2022–2023 cropping season to investigate the effect of seed treatment on the yield of Hashemi rice in paddy fields of Sanger District, Rasht, using a randomized complete block design. Soil samples were collected from 11,370 hectares with uniform spatial distribution and analyzed for organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium, cation exchange capacity, pH, and electrical conductivity. The results showed considerable variability in soil fertility, with the highest coefficients of variation observed for phosphorus (88.1%), organic carbon (36.7%), available potassium (34.3%), and total nitrogen (33.6%). Based on these findings, nine farms were selected for field experiments. In laboratory tests, three seed treatments including farm-saved seed and certified seed, both with and without nutrient solution were compared for germination performance. Farm-saved seeds had a low germination rate (53.7%), whereas seeds treated with nutrient solution achieved 98% germination, representing significant improvements of 8% and 44% over certified and farm-saved seeds, respectively. Consequently, field trials were conducted on the nine farms using certified seed with and without nutrient treatment. The results demonstrated that seed treatment with nutrient solution, combined with soil-test-based nutrient management, significantly increased paddy yield by 480 kg per hectare. This suggests that such an integrated approach can be recommended as an effective strategy for improving rice production.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Introduction

          Rice yield gaps can result from soil fertility decline and improper seedling establishment in early growth stages. Germination, the first and most sensitive stage of plant growth, plays a crucial role in successful cultivation. Enhancing seed surroundings using nutrient solutions can strengthen this process. Seed treatment with nutrient solutions is an affordable and effective method to improve early growth and rice yield. Field evidence indicates that in Sanger, a district of Rasht County (Guilan Province), most farmers use self-saved seeds and manage rice field nutrition based on experience and local traditions. Scientific studies show that low germination index seeds and the absence of a proper nutrition plan are major factors in yield reduction. This research aimed to investigate the effect of seed treatment with nutrient solutions on Hashemi rice under different soil fertility conditions in rice fields of the Sanger region.

Methods

            In this study, a 11,370-hectare area of paddy fields in the Sangar district was mapped using GIS software, and the locations for soil sampling points were determined. After conducting soil tests in 138 farms, 9 farms with varying fertility levels were selected as experimental fields. A nutrient management plan for these farms was developed and implemented based on the soil test results. Farmers' self-saved seeds were collected from the selected farms and compared with certified seeds and seeds treated with a nutrient solution in terms of germination indices. Based on the results, only certified and treated seeds were selected for field cultivation. The seed treatment involved a liquid fertilizer containing seaweed extract (5%), zinc (15%), potassium (4%), phosphorus (4%), and nitrogen (4%). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with each farm considered as a replicate. Transplanting was carried out in 3×3-meter plots with a planting distance of 20×20 cm. Final yield was measured from one square meter after removing the border areas. Data were analyzed using SAS software version 9, and treatment means were compared using the LSD test at the 5% significance level.

Results

             The results of the soil analysis revealed significant differences in the fertility status of the studied farms. Accordingly, nutrient management was tailored to the specific conditions of each farm. Linear correlation analysis showed that farms with higher levels of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus had higher yields. The evaluation of seed treatment with the nutrient solution demonstrated that this method increased yield in both high- and low-fertility farms. Germination index assessments also indicated a significant advantage of seed treatment with the nutrient solution compared to farmers' self-saved seeds and certified seeds. This finding suggests that farmers primarily use low-quality seeds, which can lead to reduced yields. The analysis of variance for yield and yield components showed that seed treatment with the nutrient solution improved traits such as the number of tillers, panicle length, number of grains per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle, thousand-grain weight, and plant height, playing a significant role in yield enhancement. Overall, the use of seed treatment with a nutrient-rich solution under varying soil fertility conditions resulted in an average paddy yield increase of 480 kg per hectare compared to the control treatment.

Conclusion

             This study demonstrated that the combination of soil test-based nutrient management and seed treatment with a nutrient solution has a significant impact on improving growth and increasing the yield of Hashemi rice variety. This synergy can be recommended as an effective strategy for enhancing productivity and reducing the yield gap in paddy fields.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, Naser Davatgar, Jafar Asghari and Mahmoud Shabanpour; Methodology, Naser Davatgar, Mohammad Khaneh Angha and Jafar Asghari; Software, Naser Davatgar and Mohammad Khaneh Angha; Validation, Naser Davatgar and Mahmoud Shabanpour; Formal analysis, Naser Davatgar and Mohammad Khaneh Angha; Investigation, Jafar Asghari and Mohammad Khaneh Angha ;Writing, Mohammad Khaneh Angha and Jafar Asghari; Original draft preparation, Mohammad Khaneh Angha; Writing, review and editing, Naser Davatgar; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Data Availability Statement

Data is available on reaseonable requests from the outhors

 

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to Appreciate the university of guilan and rice research institute of Iran.

Ethical considerations

The authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 56, Issue 10
January 2026
Pages 2639-2654

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