Effects of irrigation water quantities and seasonal variation on oil content and fatty acid composition of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

AbstractA field experiment was conducted in the North Western Group of the Gezira Scheme (longitude 32°48′ and latitude 15°14′) for four successive seasons, two winter and two summer seasons, during the years 1999–2002, to study the effect of different irrigation water quantities (300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 mm per season) on oil content and oleic acid and linoleic acid percentages in two sunflower cultivars [Rodeo, an open‐pollinated variety, and Hysun33, a hybrid). The experiment was designed in a split plot design, with four replicates. The cultivars were allotted to the sub‐plots while the irrigation treatments were assigned to main plots. The results showed that different irrigation water quantities had significant effects on all parameters studied and the cultivar Hysun33 gave a higher oil content (36.6%) at 700 mm whereas the open‐pollinated variety Rodeo gave 34.1% oil at that level of irrigation. The overall percentages of oleic and linoleic acids were 29.7 and 58.1 in winter and 47.6 and 43.1 in summer, respectively. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry