Back to Contents

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

PHYSIOLOGY, PHENOLOGY AND YIELD OF SUNFLOWER (AUTUMN) AS AFFECTED BY NPK FERTILIZER AND HYBRIDS

Jehan Bakht^1*, Mohammad Shafi², Mohammad Yousaf³ AND Hamid Ullah Shah⁴

Abstract: The present field studies investigate the effect of NPK fertilizer on the physiology, phenology and yield response of sunflower hybrids at National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan during autumn, 2000 and 2001. The response of sunflower hybrids  (SF-187 and Parsun-1) were studied using low medium and high rate of NPK (0, 50, 100,150 kg ha^-1) in factorial design with split plot arrangements. Days to R1 (button stage), R4 (inflorescence begins to open), R5.8 (80% anthesis) and R9 (physiological maturity) stages significantly (P<0.05) increased with an increase in fertilizer levels. Among the hybrids, Parsun-1 matured 4-5 days later than SF-187. Similarly, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and dry matter accumulation (DMA) also significantly (P<0.05) increased with an increase in fertilizer levels.  Maximum LAI, CGR, DMA and seed yield was produced by fertilizer treatments of 150:100:100 kg ha^-1 during both the seasons. Oil content also varied with different combinations of NPK fertilizers which ranged from 37 to 39% during both the seasons.

^1*Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar

²Department of Agronomy, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan

³National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad, Pakistan

⁴Department of Agricultural Chemistry, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan