Analyses of germination of seeds under artificial stress conditions are tools for a better understanding of the survival and adaptation capacity of species under natural stress conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of priming on seed germination, on breaking of dormancy, and on the length of Urochloa brizantha seedlings under water restriction and salt stress conditions. A completely randomized experimental design was used with four replications in a 3 × 6 factorial arrangement consisting of 3 germination conditions (water, water restriction with PEG, and salinity with NaCl) and 6 treatments [five priming solutions (distilled water, potassium nitrate, spermidine, gibberellin, and sodium nitroprusside) and a control (unprimed seeds)]. The following determinations were made: seed moisture content after priming (before drying) and after drying the seeds, germination test at seven and twenty-one days after sowing, germination speed index, viability by the tetrazolium test of the seeds remaining from the germination test, and seedling length. Priming is effective in minimizing the negative effects of water restriction and salinity. Use of sodium nitroprusside as a priming solution results in a lower percentage of dormant seeds and greater germination, vigor, and plant development.

Maize has a high nutritional requirement, especially regarding NPK fertilization. However, conventional fertilization with these nutrients presents a high loss potential, mainly by volatilization, leaching, adsorption, and fixation, which may reflect on the development and yield of maize plants. Using fertilizers with increased efficiency seeks to mitigate these limitations, reducing potential losses due to gradual nutrient release. This study aimed to compare the nutrition, growth, and production of maize plants subjected to different doses and special NPK fertilizers fully applied at planting and their residual effect on the soil. It was a randomized block design in a 3x4 factorial scheme with four replications. The first factor consisted of conventional mineral, polymer-coated, and organomineral + PGPB fertilizers. The second factor included doses of 0, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha-¹ of NPK. The study evaluated vegetative growth, foliar nutrition (N, P, and K), yield growth components, productivity, profitability, and residual K content in the soil after cultivation. The conventional mineral fertilizer produced more dry biomass in the aerial part. Profitability was similar between conventional and special fertilizers. However, the latter performed better overall in vegetative and productive growth, showing a potential reduction of the applied doses without compromising grain yield, especially in organomineral + PGPB fertilization. This treatment also presented a higher residual effect of K on the soil.