COMBINED FOLIAGE APPLICATION OF ZINC AND BORON IMPROVES ACHENE YIELD, OIL QUALITY AND NET RETURNS IN SUNFLOWER HYBRIDS UNDER AN ARID CLIMATE

Abstract

The deficiency of micronutrients is one of the main reason for low seed yield in oilseed crops in many developing countries including Pakistan. Therefore, this two-year field study was conducted to assess the influence of foliage applied micronutrients (individual/or in combination) on the yield and quality of sunflower hybrids. For this study, we hypothesized that foliage application of micronutrients will improve achene yield, oil quality and net returns in sunflower hybrids. The results indicated that sunflower hybrid ‘Parsun’ produced the higher head diameter, and had more 1000-achene weight, achene yield, oil content, stearic acid, palmitic acid and linolenic acid as compared to ‘FMC-1’. Likewise the tallest plants, greater number of leaves, maximum seed weight, the highest achene yield, and oil content were noted with the combined application of Zn+B. Highest achene yield with combined application of Zn+B also resulted in highest net income. The application of micronutrient also improved the oil content and oil quality. In conclusion, the hybrid ‘Parsun’ should be grown with the application of Zn+B (10 and 2 kg ha-1 respectively) to achieve higher achene yield, better seed quality and to earn higher net benefits in sunflower hybrids under arid climate of Layyah Punjab, Pakistan.