ZINC NUTRITION ON PERFORMANCE OF SUNFLOWER HYBRID (Helianthus annuus L.) IN ALFISOLS
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Date
2015
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PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD
Abstract
A study entitled “Zinc nutrition on performance of sunflower (Helianthus
annuus L.) hybrid in Alfisols” was conducted during Kharif, 2014 at Indian Institute
of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The soil of the experimental field
was a sandy loam with pH 8.3, electrical conductivity 0.082 dS m-1, low in available
organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous, medium in available potassium and
sulphur, deficient in available zinc (0.48 mg kg-1 soil). Among all micronutrients zinc
plays a vital role in plant nutrition. In order to know the effect of various levels and
sources of Zn on the performance of sunflower hybrid, this study was conducted with
sunflower hybrid DRSH-1 as a test crop. The experiment was laid out in randomized
block design with three levels (10, 15 and 20 kg ha-1) and three sources of zinc
(ZnSO4.7H2O, ZnSO4.H2O and Zn-EDTA) with ten treatments T1 (control), T2
[RDF+ ZnSO4.7H2O (21% Zn) @ 10 kg ha-1], T3 (RDF+ ZnSO4.7H2O @ 15 kg ha-
1),T4 (RDF+ZnSO4.7H2O @ 20 kg ha-1), T5 [RDF+ ZnSO4.H2O (33% Zn ) @ 10 kg
ha-1], T6 (RDF+ ZnSO4.H2O @ 15 kg ha-1), T7 (RDF+ ZnSO4.H2O @ 20 kg ha-1), T8
[RDF+ Zn-EDTA (12% Zn) @ 10 kg ha-1], T9 (RDF+ Zn-EDTA @ 15 kg ha-1) and
T10 (RDF+ Zn-EDTA @ 20 kg ha-1) each replicated thrice during kharif season. The
RDF applied to sunflower was 90:60:30 (N: P2O5: K2O kg ha-1). Zinc levels and
sources were applied as per the treatments.
The plant samples were collected at 60 DAS and 90 DAS. Similarly soil
samples were also collected at 60 DAS and 90 DAS. Seed yield was recorded at
harvest stage. The shoot and seed samples were analyzed for N, P, K, S and Zn. Seed samples were analysed for oil content, fatty acid composition and protein content.
Nutrient uptake was computed in both plant and seed samples. Soil samples were
analyzed for pH, EC, OC, available N, P, K, S and Zn at 60 DAS and 90 DAS.
The mean sunflower yields viz., seed and stover at maturity were recorded as
1680, 3541 kg ha-1. The seed yield and stover yields at maturity increased by 49 and
72 per cent, respectively over control due to application of ZnSO4. H2O @ 20 kg ha-1
along with 100 per cent RDF.
The combined application of Zinc + RDF at 20 kg ha-1 level with ZnSO4.H2O
source produced significantly maximum (17.6 cm) head diameter at harvest but other
yield attributing characters showed an increase over control which are non significant
i.e., plant height from 143.8 to 170.3 cm and 151.9 cm to 185.5 cm in treatments
received ZnSO4.H2O @ 0 kg ha-1 and 20 kg ZnSO4.H2O kg ha-1, respectively at 60
DAS and 90 DAS.
The application of 20 kg ZnSO4.H2O ha-1 produced significantly maximum
protein content oil yield and protein yield were recorded 20.2%, 737 kg ha-1 and 315
kg ha-1 but oil content (43.9 %) increased over control which was non significant.
The highest uptake of N, K, S and Zn was recorded (65.4, 142, 12.5 kg ha-1
and 105 g ha-1 and 51.2, 70.4, 9.9 kg ha-1 and 120.7 g ha-1) in treatment
T7 (RDF + ZnSO4. H2O @ 20 kg ha-1 at 90 DAS and 60 DAS, respectively.
The response of sunflower due to applied treatments was attributed to poor
fertility i.e., low nutrient (OC, N, Zn) status of soil. At 60 DAS and 90 DAS, the
treatments that received zinc sources showed maximum available N, P2O5, K2O, S
and Zn contents in soil.
There was no significant variation in pH, EC, OC and available P, K content
at after harvest of sunflower among different sources and levels of zinc but the
variation was found significant in available N, S and Zn.
The study indicated that the application of zinc sulphate monohydrate @ 20
kg ha-1 along with RDF gave maximum net income from sunflower crop and B:C
ratio also highest in treatment T7. Based on the results of investigation it can be
concluded that among zinc sources and levels, application of 20 kg ZnSO4.H2O is
sufficient for obtaining optimum yields and good quality of sunflower when grown
on light texured Alfisols. Zinc fertilizers should be at least 40-50% water soluble to
supply adequate plant available Zn. ZnSO4.H2O is relatively more free flowing
powder form and less solubility than ZnSO4.7H2O, Zn-EDTA.
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Keywords
zinc, yields, sowing, crops, planting, biological development, oils, inorganic acid salts, research methods, sulphur