The Effect of Water Produced by Peltier Module on Seed Germination of Cucumber, Chickpea, Flax and Camelina

Abstract

Drought stress in arid and semi-arid regions reduces crop yield. To evaluate the effect of water production with the Peltier module and its effect on seed germination of cucumber, chickpea, flax, and camelina, a study was conducted in the Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. This study was performed as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications. The factors included irrigation methods and plant species. The irrigation method included water production with the Peltier module, control (without irrigation), and irrigation with distilled water. Results showed that irrigation treatment with the Peltier module and irrigation treatment with distilled water in four plants of cucumber, chickpea, flax, and camelina were not different in terms of germination percentage. In the control treatment (without irrigation), seed germination was zero. In all four plants, the irrigation with the Peltier module had a higher caulicle length and root-to-shoot ratio than the control. In three plants of cucumber, chickpea, and flax, the irrigation with the Peltier module had a higher radicle length, seed vigor based on length, seed vigor based on weight, caulicle length, and radicle weight than the control. It is concluded that the Peltier module can germinate the seeds.

Keywords

• caulicle
• drought
• radicle
• seed vigor
• water production