Growth and productivity of spring sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids as influenced by sulphur nutrition in drip and furrow irrigation

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Date
2017
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to find out the effect of methods of irrigation and sulphur nutrition on productivity of sunflower hybrids at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during spring season of 2016 and 2017. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design, keeping combination of two hybrids (PSH-1962 and PSH-996), two methods of irrigation (drip and furrow irrigation) and four sulphur levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg S ha-1). Elemental sulphur was applied in drip and gypsum was the source of sulphur in furrow irrigated crop. Results revealed that growth, yield attributes, seed yield, oil content and oil yield were found to be significantly higher in PSH-1962 than PSH-996. PSH-1962 resulted in 15.9, 13.2 and 14.4 per cent higher oil content and 36.9, 22.0 and 29.5 per cent higher oil yield than PSH-996 during 2016, 2017 and in pooled data. PSH-1962 recorded 9392.9 Rs/ha higher net return and benefit cost ratio (B:C) than PSH-996 in pooled data. Drip irrigated crop recorded significantly higher growth attributes, yield attributes, seed yield, oil content and oil yield as compared to furrow irrigated crop. Drip irrigation resulted in 18.9, 19.1 and 18.9 per cent higher oil yield than furrow irrigated crop with saving of 30.5 per cent irrigation water, which resulted in 81.1, 53.6 and 67.9 per cent higher apparent water productivity (AWP) during 2016, 2017 and in pooled data, respectively. The net return and B:C was higher in drip irrigation than furrow irrigation. With each increment in sulphur levels growth attributes, yield attributes, seed yield, oil content and oil yield was increased progressively. Sulphur application at 60 kg ha-1 produced significantly higher seed and oil yield than lower levels of sulphur (40, 20 and 0 kg S ha-1). However, the oil content remained statistically at par between 60 and 40 kg S ha-1. Application of 60 kg S ha-1 recorded 4166.8, 7866.4 and 11184 Rs ha-1 higher net return than 40, 20 and 0 kg S ha-1 in pooled mean, respectively. Thus, sunflower hybrids PSH-1962 should be fertigated with 60 kg S ha-1.
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