Abstract:
Seedling emergence and stand establishment of carrot seeds are often slow and erratic which results in low
productivity. Poor seed quality together with lack of pre sowing seed treatments and improper irrigation
management can be mentioned as the major factors that influence the production and productivity of carrot.
The present study was, therefore, carried out with the objective to evaluate the effects of different seed priming
techniques on establishment, growth and yield of carrot (Daucus carota L. cultivated variety Nantes) exposed
to different irrigation intervals, under field conditions at Gerado, South Wollo, Ethiopia. Four seed priming
treatments (no priming, distilled water as hydro priming, potassium nitrate as halo priming and gibberelic
acid treatment as hormonal priming) and three irrigation intervals (4, 7 and 10 days) were combined in split
plot design with three replications where the irrigation intervals were assigned to main plots and the seed
priming techniques to sub plots. The results indicated that except, the interaction effects of priming techniques
and irrigation intervals on number of leaves per plant the main as well as interaction effects of seed priming
and irrigation interval significantly affected most of the tested parameters. Distilled water treatment in seven
and ten days irrigation intervals recorded the highest marketable carrot root yields of 33.73 t ha
and 30.63 t
ha-
1
respectively. Moreover, distilled water treatment in seven days irrigation interval gave the highest net
benefit of carrot (858476.21birr). The same treatment combination also recorded the highest marginal rate of
return (4255.80%) which can be recommended for economical production of carrot in the study area and
other similar agro-ecologies. However, as the results are limited to one location and season, repetition of the
study in multi-location and season is necessary to come up with a sound conclusion and recommendation.