Combined Effects of Air Plasma Seed Treatment and Foliar Application of Plasma Activated Water on Enhanced Paddy Plant Growth and Yield

• Published in: Plasma chemistry and plasma processing 2021-07, Vol.41 (4), p.1081-1099
• Main Authors: Rashid, Mamunur, Rashid, M. M., Reza, M. A., Talukder, M. R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air plasma; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Crop yield; Germination; Grain; Inorganic Chemistry; Low pressure; Mechanical Engineering; Original Paper; Plant growth; Plants (botany); Plasma; Proteins; Seeds
• ISSN: 0272-4324; 1572-8986
• DOI: 10.1007/s11090-021-10179-2

Eco-friendly plasma technology is appeared as promising for the improvement of crop yield and hence it was applied to study the paddy plant growth and yield. Applications of plasma technology in this study are two-fold: (1) paddy seeds ( Oryza sativa L. ) were treated with low pressure (100 torr) glow air discharge (LPGAD) plasma for duration of 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 s for finding the highest germination rate for field application, and (2) plasma activated waters (PAWs) were prepared and applied as foliar spray to the plants grown from the treated seeds to investigate the combined effects on plant growth, yield and total soluble protein and sugar concentrations in the produced paddy grains. Seedlings grown from the 90 s LPGAD plasma treated seeds, depending on the results obtained from seed germination test, were transplanted in the field and PAWs were applied 1–5 times during vegetative growth stage of the paddy plants. The results reveal that (a) the maximum paddy seed germination rate of ~ 7% with respect to control was obtained from 90 s treatment duration, out of five treatment durations, with LPGAD plasma, (b) plants growth parameters were enhanced due to the combined effects of plasma seed treatment along with PAW application, (c) defense mechanisms of plants were improved through enhancement of enzymatic activities, (d) concentrations of total soluble protein and sugar were enhanced in the paddy grains, and (e) finally yield was increased by ~ 16.67%.