5TH International Congress on Technology - Engineering & Science - Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia (2018-02-01)

Integrated Use Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus Improved Sunflower Yield, Nutrient Uptake And Use Efficiencies In Rainfed Areas

Optimum use of applied inputs is prerequisite in modern agriculture and scientists are working hard in this regard. Among different agricultural inputs, fertilizers are the most important as they govern the nutrient availability and hence crop yield. Nitrogen and phosphorus play a vital role in different plant functions as a structural unit as well as in plant metabolism. It is necessary to apply précised amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus to obtain maximum crop yield and avoid their over application that may results in serious environmental consequences. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of different application rates of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of sunflower under rainfed conditions of Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. There were four levels of nitrogen application i.e. 0, 75, 120 and 180 kg N ha-1 while phosphorus was applied at three levels i.e. 0 60 and 90 kg ha-1. the combination of these application levels give rise to twelve treatments i.e. T1: control, T2:N0P60, T3:N0P90, T4:N75P0, T5:N75P60, T6:N75P90, T7:N120P0, T8:120P60, T9:N120P90, T10:N180P0, T11:N180P60, T12:N180P90. Sunflower hybrid “NARC HMH 0907” was used as the test crop. The results of the study showed that application of different combinations of nitrogen and phosphorus but in general application of N120P90 produced better results for most of the parameters. The vegetative growth of sunflower increased with increase in application rate of fertilizers and N180 produced maximum plant height, shoot dry weight, and chlorophyll contents. However in terms of yield it was observed that N120 produced maximum results in terms of head diameter, number of seeds per head and ultimately the grain yield. The grain yield produced by N120 was 3019 kg ha-1 while N180 showed seed yield of 2373 kg -1. On the other hand P90 produced higher results for both morphological and yield attributes as compared to P60. Seed yield in P90 was 2389 kg ha-1 while P60 gives yield of 2304 kg ha-1, respectively. Application of different fertilizer rates also significantly enhances nutrient uptake and use efficiency. Total and straw N uptake was higher in N180 but in case of seed N uptake N120 produced better results. N120 also produced better results for nitrogen use efficiency with a value of 141 % while in case of N180 it was 114 %. On the other hand P90 produced better results both in case of uptake and phosphorus use efficiency. The total P uptake in P90 was 17.1 kg ha-1 while for P60 its value was 9.66 kg ha-1. For phosphorus use efficiency P90 gives a value of 19% that was significantly higher as compared to 16% PUE observed for P60. The study revealed the importance of rational use of nitrogen and phosphorus either alone or in combination to get highest possible yield of sunflower without causing environmental problems due to over application of both nutrients. However further study is required to completely understand the processes involved in the release and availability of the nutrients to the crop and to reduce their losses in soil plant system.
Mahnoor Azad, Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi, Nasir Raheem, Ahsan Ali Anwar, Nighet Musa