PHYSIOLOGICAL GROWTH AND YIELD EVALUATION IN PMINERALIZED SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUS L.) UNDER SUDANOSAHELIAN AGRO-ECOLOGY, NIGERIA
Wabekwa, J.W., I.A. Sodagni and F.K. Mohammad*
ABSTRACT
The study was carried out at the Research and Demonstration Farm, Department of Crop Production, University of 0 0 Maiduguri (11 47 'N, 13 13 'E) during 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons, to investigate the response of sunflower to phosphorus fertilizer -1 inorganically applied as P O @ 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg ha . The experi- 2 5 mental design was randomized complete block and replicated thrice. It was observed that leaf area per plant and plant dry weight increased with -1 increasing P O rates (40-60 kg ha ) at 6, 8 and 10 weeks after sowing (WAS) 2 5 . Crop growth rates similarly increased with increasing P O rates (40-80 kg 2 5 -1 ha ) at 6 WAS in both years and the combined means for the two years, and at 8 WAS in 2011 and the combined analysis. Days to 50% flowering and head dry weight were not significantly influenced by P O rates and 1000- 2 5 -1 grain weights indicated that increased P O application (40-80 kg ha ) 2 5 enhanced grain filling efficiency and this influenced weight per 1000 -1 grains during both years. The application of 40 kg P O ha increased grain 2 5 -1 yield statistically in 2010 rainy season (2289.10 kg ha ) and the combined -1 -1 analysis (1565.20 kg ha ). During 2011 rainy season, 80 kg P2O5 ha -1 recorded statistically higher grain yield (1153.60 kg ha ). Similarly, the -1 application of 80 kg P O ha statistically influenced higher fodder yield 2 5 -1 -1 (4112.60 kg ha ) in 2010 rainy season; while 60 kg P O kg ha yielded 2 5 -1 statistically higher fodder values during 2011 (1873.00 kg ha ) and -1 -1 combined analysis (2393.30 kg ha ). Application of 60 kg P O ha also 2 5 -1 increased the biological yield statistically in 2010 (3709.70 kg ha ) and -1 -1 lower P O rate of 40 kg ha statistically yielded 3980.80 kg ha in the 2 5 combined analysis while biological yield was not statistically significant -1 during 2011 rainy season. Considering 40 kg P O ha in yield performances 2 5 for grain and fodder in this experiment, it could be recommended for farmers' adaptive farm trials in the agro-ecological location.
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
