**6.1 Drought hardening**

Drought hardening refers to an agronomic practice to improve the resistance of genotype to drought as a consequence of seed/seedling treatment. Pre-sowing and post sowing treatments improve drought hardening. In pre-sowing treatments, seed is soaked in water for 24 hr. and dried in sun before they are sown in the main field. In post sowing treatment, a slight moisture stress applied to young seedlings to recover their drought resistance during later stages of growth.
