Fertilizer optimization for hybrid sunflower under irrigated condition

This study was undertaken to optimize macronutrient requirement of hybrid sunflower for harvesting maximum yield and oil content in irrigated condition. For this purpose a field experiment was conducted at Oilseed Research Station, Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Experiment comprised of macronutrient treatments consisted of five levels of nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha -1 ), four levels of phosphorus (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 ) and four levels of potassium (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg K 2 O ha -1 ). Increasing levels of N, P, K increased yield, yield components and oil content. Maximum seed yield (1170 kg ha -1 ) and oil content (41.4 %) was recorded with NPK @ 120:90:90 kg ha -1 (T 7 ). Treatment T 7 proved its superiority by recording 12.5 per cent increased seed yield and 13.1 per cent increased oil yield over recommended dose of fertilizers (T 10 ) i.e. NPK @ 60:90:60 kg ha -1 . Hence NPK @ 120:90:90 kg ha -1 (T 7 ) was observed most suitable to obtain maximum quantitative and qualitative yield of hybrid sunflower under irrigated condition.