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Bemanu Bridget Yayra

Priming with botanical leaf extracts enhances emergence and vigour in soybean (Glycine max)

Nana Kwaku Yeboah Agyetoah, Paul Kweku Tandoh, Irene Akua Idun, Bridget Yayra Bemanu

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-582180

ABSTRACT. Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a vital legume crop that is widely cultivated for its high protein and oil contents and serves as an essential food and industrial resource. In Ghana, efforts to improve soybean productivity have largely focused on synthetic seed treatments, despite the growing interest in sustainable agricultural practices. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of seed priming using botanical leaf extracts, namely those of moringa (Moringa oleifera), neem (Azadirachta indica), and tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia), on the growth and physiological seed quality after harvest of three soybean varieties (‘Afayak’, ‘Jenguma’, and ‘Favour’). We hypothesised that botanical priming would enhance seed and plant performance compared to non-primed controls. A 3 × 4 factorial experiment was conducted using a randomised complete block design. Measurable results showed that seeds primed with 10% moringa and neem leaf extracts significantly increased the plant height, number of branches, 1000-seed weight, and seed vigour, with electrical conductivity values ranging from 17 to 34 µS cm⁻¹g⁻¹, which is within the recommended range for high seed vigour. The germination percentage after harvest remained consistently high across treatments (80–95%), with no significant delays in flowering time. Moringa-primed Afayak seeds had the highest 1000-seed weight (110.36 g), and tithonia-primed seeds showed reduced performance and higher fungal incidence. These results confirm the hypothesis and highlight the potential of botanical priming as an effective, low-cost strategy for improving soybean seed quality and crop establishment. These findings offer practical implications for sustainable agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, promoting environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals.

Keywords: botanical leaf extract; germination enhancement; moringa; neem; seed priming; seedling vigour; soybean (Glycine max); tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia).

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Growth and seed yield responses of two soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) varieties to coconut water priming

Paul Kweku Tandoh, Irene Akua Idun, Bridget Yayra Bemanu, Abiboy Kofi Nyagblordzro, Solomon Kwaah, Akosua Damtuah

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-574160

ABSTRACT. Soybean is an essential legume that is increasingly valued for its nutritious oil and protein contents. Despite the benefits derived from soybean, low seed viability and inconsistent germination are major production setbacks. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of seed priming agents on the growth and yield of two soybean varieties (Favour and Afayak). The research used a 2 × 5 factorial randomised complete block design with three replications. The soybean variety at 2 levels was the first factor (Favour and Afayak), and the second factor involved 5 priming treatments: 4 h of water (20°C), 6 h of water, 4 h of coconut water, 6 h of coconut water, and no priming. Coconut water priming significantly enhanced germination, with the Favour variety achieving the highest rate (75.5%) after 4 h of priming. Water priming for 4 h was most effective in enhancing plant height, stem girth and leaf development in the Afayak variety. Yield was maximised in Afayak primed with coconut water for 6 h (2520 kg/ha), while Favour primed for 4 h produced the highest number of pods (135.5). Regression analysis revealed that the growth parameters and germination percentage accounted for 95% of seed yield variation. The study concludes that coconut water is an effective priming agent, enhancing germination, growth and yield and recommends 4-h coconut water priming for Favour and 6-h priming for Afayak to optimise production.

Keywords: coconut water; germination; seed yield; soybean seed; vegetative growth.

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Priming with botanical leaf extracts enhances emergence and vigour in soybean (Glycine max)

Aug 8, 2025 |

Nana Kwaku Yeboah Agyetoah, Paul Kweku Tandoh, Irene Akua Idun, Bridget Yayra Bemanu

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-582180

ABSTRACT. Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a vital legume crop that is widely cultivated for its high protein and oil contents and serves as an essential food and industrial resource. In Ghana, efforts to improve soybean productivity have largely focused on synthetic seed treatments, despite the growing interest in sustainable agricultural practices. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of seed priming using botanical leaf extracts, namely those of moringa (Moringa oleifera), neem (Azadirachta indica), and tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia), on the growth and physiological seed quality after harvest of three soybean varieties (‘Afayak’, ‘Jenguma’, and ‘Favour’). We hypothesised that botanical priming would enhance seed and plant performance compared to non-primed controls. A 3 × 4 factorial experiment was conducted using a randomised complete block design. Measurable results showed that seeds primed with 10% moringa and neem leaf extracts significantly increased the plant height, number of branches, 1000-seed weight, and seed vigour, with electrical conductivity values ranging from 17 to 34 µS cm⁻¹g⁻¹, which is within the recommended range for high seed vigour. The germination percentage after harvest remained consistently high across treatments (80–95%), with no significant delays in flowering time. Moringa-primed Afayak seeds had the highest 1000-seed weight (110.36 g), and tithonia-primed seeds showed reduced performance and higher fungal incidence. These results confirm the hypothesis and highlight the potential of botanical priming as an effective, low-cost strategy for improving soybean seed quality and crop establishment. These findings offer practical implications for sustainable agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, promoting environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals.

Keywords: botanical leaf extract; germination enhancement; moringa; neem; seed priming; seedling vigour; soybean (Glycine max); tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia).

read more

Growth and seed yield responses of two soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) varieties to coconut water priming

Feb 11, 2025 |

Paul Kweku Tandoh, Irene Akua Idun, Bridget Yayra Bemanu, Abiboy Kofi Nyagblordzro, Solomon Kwaah, Akosua Damtuah

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-574160

ABSTRACT. Soybean is an essential legume that is increasingly valued for its nutritious oil and protein contents. Despite the benefits derived from soybean, low seed viability and inconsistent germination are major production setbacks. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of seed priming agents on the growth and yield of two soybean varieties (Favour and Afayak). The research used a 2 × 5 factorial randomised complete block design with three replications. The soybean variety at 2 levels was the first factor (Favour and Afayak), and the second factor involved 5 priming treatments: 4 h of water (20°C), 6 h of water, 4 h of coconut water, 6 h of coconut water, and no priming. Coconut water priming significantly enhanced germination, with the Favour variety achieving the highest rate (75.5%) after 4 h of priming. Water priming for 4 h was most effective in enhancing plant height, stem girth and leaf development in the Afayak variety. Yield was maximised in Afayak primed with coconut water for 6 h (2520 kg/ha), while Favour primed for 4 h produced the highest number of pods (135.5). Regression analysis revealed that the growth parameters and germination percentage accounted for 95% of seed yield variation. The study concludes that coconut water is an effective priming agent, enhancing germination, growth and yield and recommends 4-h coconut water priming for Favour and 6-h priming for Afayak to optimise production.

Keywords: coconut water; germination; seed yield; soybean seed; vegetative growth.

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© by the authors; licensee Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment, Iasi, Romania. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)