In the quest to bolster food security and enhance agricultural resilience, researchers are turning to underutilised crops that can thrive in challenging conditions. Among these, Bambara groundnut (*Vigna subterranea*) stands out as a drought-tolerant legume with immense potential. However, its cultivation has been hindered by slow and uneven germination due to hard seed coats. A recent study published in the journal *Agronomy* (which translates to “Field Management” in English) sheds light on a simple yet effective technique that could revolutionise the cultivation of this resilient crop.
Led by Anne Linda Chisa from the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, the research explores the effects of hydropriming on the germination and early growth of different Bambara groundnut landraces. Hydropriming, a process where seeds are soaked in water for a specific duration before planting, has been shown to improve germination rates and seedling vigour in various crops. Chisa and her team investigated how different durations of hydropriming—0, 12, 24, and 36 hours—affect the seed imbibition, emergence, and early seedling growth of four Bambara groundnut landraces: NW, Nov4, ARC, and 519.
The results were striking. The study found that hydropriming significantly reduced the time to emergence, with some landraces achieving 50% emergence by Day 5. “Hydropriming not only speeds up germination but also enhances seedling vigour,” Chisa explained. “This is crucial for farmers who need quick and uniform crop establishment to maximise yield and resource use efficiency.”
The research revealed that different landraces responded variably to hydropriming. For instance, Genotype 519 exhibited the highest water imbibition (17.31%) at 36 hours, while NW displayed slower but steadier hydration (13.51%). These differences highlight the importance of tailoring hydropriming durations to specific genotypes to optimise growth outcomes.
The benefits of hydropriming extended beyond faster germination. After 9 days of growth, the shoot length increased from 7.8 cm to 12.7 cm, the root length from 11.6 cm to 18.1 cm, and the dry mass from 0.38 g to 0.67 g. These improvements in seedling growth are attributed to the enhanced water uptake and metabolic activity triggered by hydropriming.
The study also identified key performance indicators, such as whole-plant dry mass, root dry mass, and root-to-shoot ratio, which were significantly influenced by the interaction between genotype and priming duration. “Our findings suggest that hydropriming, particularly for 36 hours, is a promising low-cost intervention that can promote early growth and improve crop establishment,” Chisa noted.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. As climate change continues to pose challenges to agriculture, the need for drought-resilient crops like Bambara groundnut becomes increasingly apparent. Hydropriming offers a simple, scalable solution that can enhance the cultivation of this underutilised legume, contributing to food security and sustainable agriculture.
Moreover, the commercial potential of Bambara groundnut extends beyond food security. As a legume, it has the potential to improve soil health through nitrogen fixation, reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers. This aligns with the principles of climate-smart agriculture, which emphasises sustainable practices that mitigate the impacts of climate change.
While the study provides compelling evidence of the benefits of hydropriming, further field-level validation is recommended to assess its practical scalability under diverse environmental conditions. As Chisa and her team continue to explore the potential of Bambara groundnut, their work paves the way for innovative solutions that can transform agriculture and enhance food security in the face of a changing climate.
In the words of Chisa, “This research is just the beginning. There is so much more to discover about Bambara groundnut and other underutilised crops. By harnessing the power of simple techniques like hydropriming, we can unlock their full potential and build a more resilient and sustainable future for agriculture.”