Effect of Nitrogen on Yield and Oil Quality of Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.) Hybrids under Sub Humid Conditions of Pakistan

Wajid Nasim, Ashfaq Ahmad, Asghari Bano, Rabiu Olatinwo, Muhammad Usman, Tasneem Khaliq, Aftab Wajid, Hafiz Mohkum Hammad, Muhammad Mubeen, Muzzammil Hussain

Adaptive Research Farm, Government of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Agro-Climatology Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, University of Georgia, Griffin, USA.
Department of Irrigation & Drainage, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2012.32029                

Abstract

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has emerged as an economically important crop in Pakistan due to its significant share in vegetable oil production. The plant metabolic processes require protein to increase the vegetative, reproductive growth and yield of the crop. The protein is wholly dependent upon the amount of nitrogen fertilization available for plant use. A two-year field study was conducted in 2008 and 2009. The objective was to determine the effect of different nitrogen (N) levels (N₁ = 0 kg·ha^–1, N₂ = 60 kg·ha^–1, N₃ = 120 kg·ha^–1, N₄ = 180 kg·ha^–1 and N₅ = 240 kg·ha^–1) on three sunflower hybrids (Hysun-33, Hysun-38 and Poineer-64A93) in agro-climatic conditions of Gujranwala, a sub-humid region in the centre of the Punjab province of Pakistan. A randomized complete block design split plot experiment was set-up with cultivars in the main plots and N levels in the subplots. Results showed that Hysun-38 gave maximum TDM (15815 kg·ha^–1) and maximum grain yield (3389 kg·ha^–1), while minimum TDM (14640 kg·ha^–1) and grain yield (3125 kg·ha^–1) was observed in Hysun-33. Among different N rates evaluated, N₄ gave maximum TDM (17890 kg·ha^–1) and grain yield (3809 kg·ha^–1) compared to the other N rates. The maximum oil content (46.2%) was observed in Hysun-38 without application of N fertilizer (N₁), while the minimum oil content (40.6%) was observed from N₅ treatment. In conclusion, the application of 180 kg·ha^–1 N to Hysun-38 provided the best combination for good yield in sunflower crop under the prevailing sub-humid conditions of Pakistan.

Keywords

Helianthus annuus L.; Nitrogen Rates; Yield; Subhumid Conditions; Pakistan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	A. O. Demir, A. T. G. H. Buyukcangaz and Z. M. T. E. S. Koksal, “Deficit Irrigation of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in a Sub-Humid Climate,” Irrigation Science, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp 279-289. doi:0.1007/s00271-006-0028-x
[2]	M. Usman, M. Arshad, A. Ahmad, N. Ahmad, M. Ziaul-Haq, A. Wajid, T. Khaliq, W. Nasim, H. Ali and S. Ahmad, “Lower and Upper Baselines for Crop Water Stress Index and Yield of Gossypium hirsutum L. under Variable Irrigation Regimes in Irrigated Semiarid Envinment,” Pakistan Journal of Botany, Vol. 42, No. 4, 2010, pp. 2541-2550.
[3]	R. Ahmad, N. Hussain, T. Mahmood and M. Amjad, “Growth and Yield Performance of Some Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Hybrids Planted in Spring Season,” Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 29, No. 3, 1992, pp. 288-291.
[4]	Soil Survey Staff, “Keys to Soil Taxonomy,” 8th Edition, United States Department of Agriculture, National Sources Conservation Service, Washington DC, 1998.
[5]	M. M. Zubillaga, J. P. Aristi and R. S. Lavado, “Effect of Phosphorus and Nitrogen Fertilization on Sunflower Nitrogen Uptake and Yield,” Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, Vol. 188, No. 4, 2002, pp. 267-274. doi:046/j.1439-037X.2002.00570.x
[6]	S. D. Koutroubas, D. K. Papakosta and A. Doitsinis, “Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency of Safflower Hybrids and Open-Pollinated Varieties under Mediterranean Conditions,” Field Crops Research, Vol. 107, No. 1, 2008, pp. 56-61. doi:016/j.fcr.2007.12.009
[7]	GOP (Government of Pakistan), “Economic Survey of Pakistan,” Finance Division Economic Advisory Wing Islamabad Pakistan, 2009, pp. 21-23.
[8]	M. A. Malik, M. F. Saleem, M. Sana and A. Rehman, “Suitable Level of N, P and K for Harvesting the Maximum Economic Returns of Sunflower,” International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Vol. 6, 2004, pp. 240-242.
[9]	W. Nasim, A. Ahmad, A. Wajid, J. Akhtar and D. Muhammad, “Nitrogen Effects on Growth and Development of Sunflower Hybrids under Agro-Climatic Conditions of Multan,” Pakistan Journal of Botany, Vol. 43, No. 4, 2011, pp. 2083-2092.
[10]	R. G. D. Steel, J. H. Torrie and D. A. Deekey, “Principles and Procedures of Statistics. A Biometrical Approach,” 3nd Edition, McGraw Hill Book, New York, 1997. pp. 400-428.
[11]	W. Nasim, “Modeling the Impact of Climate Change on Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under Different Agro-Climatic Conditions of Punjab-Pakistan,” Ph.D. Thesis, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 2010.
[12]	I. Cechin and T.F. Fumis, “Effect of Nitrogen Supply on Growth and Photosynthesis of Sunflower Plants Grown in the Greenhouse,” Plant Science, Vol. 166, No. 5, 2004, 1379-1385. doi:016/j.plantsci.2004.01.020
[13]	M. K. Hussain, E. Rasul and S. K. Ali, “Growth Analysis of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under Drought Conditions,” International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Vol. 2, 2000, pp. 136-140.
[14]	A. Wajid, A. Ghaffar, M. Maqsood, K. Hussain and W. Nasim, “Yield Response of Maize Hybrids to Varying Nitrogen Rates,” Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 44, No. 2, 2007, pp. 217-220.
[15]	M. Ishfaq, A. Ali, A. Khaliq and M., Yaseen, “Allometry, Agronomic Traits and Yield of Autumn Planted Sunflower Hybrids under Varying Row Spacing,” Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 46, No. 4, 2009, pp. 248-257.
[16]	M. Usman, M. Arshad, A. Ahmad, N. Ahmad, M. Ziaul-Haq, A. Wajid, T. Khaliq, W. Nasim, H. Ali and S. Ahmad, “Lower and Upper Baselines for Crop Water Stress Index and Yield of Gossypium hirsutum L. under Variable Irrigation Regimes in Irrigated Semiarid Environment,” Pakistan Journal of Botany, Vol. 42, No. 4, 2010, pp. 2541-2550.
[17]	M. A. Munir, M. A. Malik and M. F. Saleem, “Impact of Integration of Crop Manuring and Nitrogen Application on Growth, Yield and Quality of Spring Planted Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.),” Pakistan Journal of Botany, Vol. 39, 2007, pp. 441-449.
[18]	J. Iqbal, B. Hussain, M. F. Saleem, M. A. Munir and M. Aslam, “bBio-Economics of Autumn Planted Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Hybrids under Different NPK Applications,” Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 45, No. 3, 2008, pp. 19-24.
[19]	A. Wajid, A. Ahmad, T. Khaliq, S. Alam, A. Hussain, K. Hussain, W. Nasim, M. Usman and S. Ahmad, “Quantification of Growth, Yield and Radiation Use Efficiency of Promising Cotton Cultivars at Varying Nitrogen Levels,” Pakistan Journal of Botany, Vol. 42, No. 3, 2010, pp. 1703-1711.
[20]	A. Khaliq and Z. A. Cheema, “Influence of Irrigation and Nitrogen Management on Some Agronomic Traits and Yield of Hybrid Sunflower,” International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Vol. 7, No. 6, 2005, pp. 915-919.
[21]	A. Ahmad, S. Iqbal, S. Ahmad, T. Khaliq, W. Nasim, A. Hussain, M. Zia-ul-Haq and G. Hoogenboom, “Seasonal Growth, Radiation Interception, Its Conversion Efficiency and Aerial Dry Biomass Production of Oryza sativa L. under Diverse Agro-Environments in Pakistan,” Pakistan Journal of Botany, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2009, pp. 1241-1257.
[22]	A. Anwar-ul-Haq, Rashid, M. A. Butt, M. A. Akhter, M. Aslam and A. Saeed, “Evaluation of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Hybrids for Yield and Yield Components in Central Punjab,” Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 44, 2006. pp. 277-285.
[23]	H. Ozer, T. Polat and E. Ozturk, “Response of Irrigated Sunflower Hybrids to Nitrogen Fertilization, Growth, Yield and Yield Components,” Plant, Soil and Environment, Vol. 50, 2004, pp. 205-211.
[24]	E. Gholinezhad, A. Aynaband, A. H. Ghorthapeh, G. Noormohamadi and I. Bernousi, “Study of the Effect of Drought Stress on Yield, Yield Components and Harvest Index of Sunflower Hybrid Iroflor at Different Levels of Nitrogen and Plant Population,” Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Vol. 37, No. 2, 2009, pp. 85-94.
[25]	V. D. Zheljazkov, B. A. Vick, B. S. Baldwin, N. Buehring, T. Astatkie and B. Johnson, “Oil Content and Saturated Fatty Acids in Sunflower as a Function of Planting Date, Nitrogen Rate, and Hybrid,” Agronomy Journal, Vol. 101, No. 4, 2009, pp. 1003-1011. doi:134/agronj2009.0011
[26]	M. A. Malik, S. H. Shah, S. Mahmood and M. A. Cheema, “Effect of Various Planting Geometries on the Growth, Seed Yield and Oil Contents of New Sunflower Hybrid (SF-187),” International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Vol. 3, 2001, pp. 55-56.
[27]	W. Nasim, A. Ahmad, H. M. Hammad, H. J. Chaudhary and M. F. H. Munis, “Effect of Nitrogen on Growth and Yield of Sunflower under Semiarid Conditions of Pakistan,” Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2012.
[28]	S. D. Koutroubas, D. K. Papakosta and A. Doitsinis, “Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency of Safflower Hybrids and Open-Pollinated Varieties under Mediterranean Conditions,” Field Crops Res. Vol. 107, No. 1, 2008, pp. 56-61. doi:016/j.fcr.2007.12.009
[29]	F. Montemurro and D. D. Giorgio, “Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Sunflower Grown at Different Nitrogen Levels under Mediterranean Conditions,” Journal of Plant Nutrition, Vol. 28, No. 2, 2005, pp. 335-350. doi:081/PLN-200047627