Efficacy of botanical extracts seed priming on germination, growth and yield performance of red amaranth (amaranthus cruentus).
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
Red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) is an important leafy vegetable valued for its short production cycle, nutritional value and adaptability. However, poor and uneven germination and weak seedling establishment reduce productivity. This study evaluated the efficacy of botanical seed-priming extracts of Moringa oleifera, Azadirachta indica and Carica papaya on germination, seedling vigor, growth and yield of red amaranth. Germination percentage, mean germination time, seedling vigor, vegetative growth and yield were assessed under laboratory, screen-house and open-field conditions. The results showed that Moringa oleifera produced the highest germination percentage (88.00%), followed by neem (79.50%), papaya (74.75%), water (65.00%) and unprimed seed (44.25%). Moringa also recorded the shortest mean germination time (6.54 days) and the highest seedling vigor index (576.40), while unprimed seeds recorded the longest germination time (14.29 days) and lowest vigor (94.10). The superior germination and vigor obtained from moringa indicate that it was the most effective treatment for improving early seed performance. The positive effects of priming continued into vegetative growth and yield. Moringa-treated plants generally recorded the highest agronomic traits including plant height, leaf number, stem diameter, chlorophyll content and leaf area index. Relatedly in the screen-house , moringa produced the highest yield (5.12 t ha⁻¹), followed by Azadirachta indica (4.16 t ha⁻¹), papaya (3.26 t ha⁻¹), water (1.73 t ha⁻¹) and unprimed seed (1.08 t ha⁻¹). Under field conditions, moringa again recorded the highest yield (5.29 t ha⁻¹), followed by neem (3.97 t ha⁻¹), papaya (2.86 t ha⁻¹), water (1.70 t ha⁻¹) and unprimed seed (1.25 t ha⁻¹). The study concludes that botanical seed priming can improve growth and development of red amaranth, with moringa leaf extract being the most effective treatment, followed by neem and papaya.
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Undergraduate research report
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Citation
Tizoomu, I. (2026). Efficacy of botanical extracts seed priming on germination, growth and yield performance of red amaranth (amaranthus cruentus). [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.