Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grain yield affected by fertilizer and plant density

In order to study the effect of fertilizer and crop density on some agronomic traits in sunflower, a field experiment was carried out as a split-plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in the Agricultural Research Farm of Dasht-e-Naz in Sari, Iran. Main plots included four fertilizer treatments (N۰p ۰K۰, N۲۳p ۲۵K۲۵, N۴۶p ۵۰K۵۰ and N۶۹p ۷۵K۷۵) and sub-plots included four plant densities (D۵۰= ۵۰۰۰۰, D۶۰= ۶۰۰۰۰, D۷۰= ۷۰۰۰۰, and D۸۰= ۸۰۰۰۰ plant ha-۱). The results indicated that there was a significant difference in grain yield, biological yield, kernel, and oil yield (p < ۰.۰۱) and individual biological yield and the number of empty rows (p < ۰.۰۵) by plant density. There was a significant difference in grain kernel ratio (p < ۰.۰۵) by fertilizers. F۲ and F۱ had the maximum and minimum grain kernel ratio with ۷۷.۴۰ and ۷۶.۳۰%, respectively. D۵۰ and D۸۰ had the lowest and highest grain yield with ۵۶۶۶ and ۳۶۳۳ kg/ha, respectively. Biological yield in D۶۰ was the lowest but in D۸۰ was the highest with ۱۰۸۵۳ and ۱۶۴۶۰ kg/ha, respectively.D۶۰ and D۵۰ had the lowest and highest individual biological yield with ۱۸۰.۹۰ and ۲۲۵.۹۰ g/plant, respectively. The maximum and minimum grain yield was obtained in F۳ (۴۸۱۷ kg/ha) and F۲ (۳۹۶۸ kg/ha), respectively.

Keywords:

Biological yield , Fertilizer , Oil yield , Plant density , Sunflower