Effect of Sulphur and Boron on Yield, Quality, Nutrient Uptake and Post-Harvest Soil Nutrient Status of Hybrid Sunflower

Abstract

The Field investigations were conducted in two locations viz., at Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu during March – June 2013 and at farmers field at Ko-Chathiram village, Kurinjipadi block, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu during July- October 2013 to study the effect of different levels of sulphur and boron on quality characters, nutrient uptake and post-harvest soil nutrient status of hybrid sunflower cv. Sunbred. The treatment consisted of sulphur with five levels (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 kg S ha-1) and three levels of boron (0, 0.5, 1.0 kg B ha-1). Totally fifteen treatments were tested and were laid out in factorial concept of randomized block design with three replication. The results revealed that growth, yield attributes and yield was significantly influenced by various S and B levels. Among the treatment combinations tried, 60 kg S ha-1 with B @ 1 kg ha-1 has a spectacular effect on quality characters, nutrient uptake, ultimately leading to maximum seed yield (2573.25 and 2673.84 kg ha-1) in both the crops. S @ 0 kg ha-1 with B @ 0 kg ha-1 recorded maximum availability of N, P, K and S was noticed under S 15 kg ha-1 with B @ 1.0 kg ha-1 during both the crops. The lowest values of quality characters, nutrient uptake were recorded by 0 kg S ha-1 with B @ 1 kg ha-1.

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/5-11-01