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Response of Rainfed Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to Nitrogen Rates and Plant Population in the Semi‐arid Savanna Region of Nigeria
Author(s) -
Tenebe V. A.,
Pal U. R.,
Okonkwo C. A. C.,
Auwalu B. M.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of agronomy and crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.095
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-037X
pISSN - 0931-2250
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-037x.1996.tb00238.x
Subject(s) - sunflower , helianthus annuus , population , randomized block design , biology , shoot , agronomy , horticulture , medicine , environmental health
Field experiments were conducted during the wet seasons of 1991,1992 and 1993 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Farm, Bauchi (10 ° 22‘N, 09 ° 47‘E) to study the response of sunflower ( Helianthus annaus L.) to N rates and plant population under rainfed conditions. Four N rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha ‐1 ) and four plant populations (40000,80000,120000 and 160000 plants ha ‐1 ) were factorially combined in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Leaf area index, shoot dry weight and seed yield (kg ha ‐1 ) increased significantly with increasing N rates from 0 to 100 kg N ha ‐1 . The growth and yield parameters per plant decreased significantly with increasing plant populations from 40000 to 160000 plants ha ‐1 , but the seed yield (kg ha ‐1 ) obtained at 80000 plants ha ‐1 was significantly higher than all the other plant populations. The interactions of N x plant population confounded the main effect of each factor on the growth and yield of sunflower. The seed yield (3425 kg ha ‐1 ) obtained from the use of 100 kg N ha ‐1 at 80000 plants ha ‐1 was significantly higher than those obtained from all other combinations of N x population and out‐yielded the main effects of 100 kg N ha ‐1 and 80000 plants ha ‐1 by 18 % and 25 %, respectively. The use of 100 kg N ha ‐1 at 80000 plants ha ‐1 is therefore recommended for maximum yield of sunflower in Bauchi.